Axis Capital Holdings Limited, a Bermuda reinsurer, said in a regulatory filing that its general counsel is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities.

Carol S. Rivers, who also served as secretary for the group, joined Axis in August 2003. The company, in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday, said her contract will now expire on March 1, five months ahead of time.

A company spokesperson said it would be looking internally and externally to fill the position.

Ms Rivers joined Axis from Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, LLP, an international law firm based in Chicago, Illinois, where she specialised in corporate and securities law.

The company is also having to recruit a new chief financial officer, following the December announcement that present CFO Andrew Cook was to quit the company effective April 1 to spend more time with his family.