D.O. O’Connor appointed as new Managing Director of laya healthcare

The Chief Executive of AXA Ireland, Ms. Marguerite Brosnan, today announced the appointment of D.O. O’Connor as Managing Director designate of laya Healthcare (laya).  The appointment is subject to regulatory approval.  Subject to that approval, the appointment will commence from the 1^st January 2025.

AXA Ireland completed the €650m acquisition of laya healthcare in November 2023.  AXA will begin to underwrite laya policies on renewal from 1^st January next.

In his new role, Mr. O’Connor will lead laya healthcare’s ongoing growth and development overseeing a team of 670 and a membership base of over 705,000 people. 

Mr. O’Connor is currently Deputy Managing Director of laya healthcare.  He is one of the company’s longest serving executive directors having joined the business in 1996.  He will succeed Mr. Dónal Clancy who has been MD of laya since its establishment in 2012.  Mr. Clancy will remain with AXA in a new role as Executive Advisor.  In this role, Dónal will provide advice and guidance on the medium-to-long term strategy for developing the health business in Ireland. Dónal will also support the team to embed the processes that have been put in place to manage the health business.

Ms. Brosnan has also announced the appointment of Eoin O’Neill as Health Director (also subject to regulatory approval). Mr. O’Neill joins from Swiss Re where he was Director and Country Head for Ireland. In his new role, Mr. O’Neill will have overall responsibility for health underwriting and pricing strategy.

Commenting on the appointments, Marguerite Brosnan, CEO of AXA Ireland said;

“These appointments are a very positive step in our journey to integrate laya healthcare and health into our overall offering.  AXA is the No.1 insurer in Ireland and the No.1 Health Insurer in Europe with over €20bn in revenues globally[1]. With those strong foundations in place, our ambition in Ireland is to evolve our business and consolidate the products we offer around the needs of our customers in the health, retail and commercial insurance sectors”

Speaking on his appointment,, D.O. O’Connor said,

“I’m lucky to be taking the reins at a time of positive change and opportunity at laya healthcare and it’s the privilege of my career to lead such a strong-performing team and business. Now part of AXA, the future is bright for us at laya and I’m excited to lead our members, our team and our partners into the next chapter of growth and opportunity. Looking after our members always is the promise we made back when we first launched laya and that remains the North Star that will guide our continued growth and ambition. I’d personally like to thank Dónal for over 25 years of unwavering support, friendship and incredible leadership. While it’s impossible to replace his like, he has helped create a culture of performance and inclusion that I am committed to continuing with the support of the team.”

Outgoing MD, Dónal Clancy said

“When AXA Ireland acquired laya last year, I knew it was a momentous turning point for the team and business.  AXA brings huge expertise backed by unrivalled scale and ambition and I’m excited to take on this new role to unite AXA and laya more closely and to help realise our vision to unlock the future of healthcare for our members. It’s been an enormous privilege to lead such a wonderful team and business at laya healthcare and I’m delighted to be handing over the reins to D.O. who has been an incredible support and friend to me over the last 25 years. I know he will lead the team and business with great confidence and vision into the next phase of growth and success.”

[1] FY2023 Earnings