Insurer and reinsurer Axis Capital has appointed two new senior executives.

Michiko Kurahashi will become chief marketing officer, while Joe Cohen is to be chief communications officer — both newly-created roles.

Ms Kurahashi said: “Axis Capital is a highly-respected global specialty insurance and reinsurance company both within and external to the industry.

“The disciplined, entrepreneurial and client-centric approach to be a specialty insurance provider was very attractive.

“The industry that provides risk protection to enterprises and individuals will continue to be relevant and important globally especially in these transformative times.

“Having spent my entire career in banking, I could not miss the opportunity to apply my experience and knowledge to an industry with a potential for continuing growth.”

Mr Cohen said: “The most effective corporate narratives are grounded in authenticity and my focus will be to elevate what are already the organisation's defining attributes.

“In Axis there are many strong narrative elements already in place. This is an organisation that has differentiated itself through the high level of service, creativity and responsiveness that it provides to its clients, the talent and experience of our team and the data-driven approach that underpins our thinking and our work.”

Ms Kurahashi joins Axis after holding a series of senior marketing roles, most recently at director, head of marketing at CIT Bank.

She has also worked at UBS and HSBC and has a Ph.D and master's degree in sociology from Cornell University in the US and a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.

Mr Cohen, formerly senior vice president of communications at Kind Healthy Snacks, is a graduate of the SI Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.