Tracy Garrad is stepping down as chief executive of Axa Health and will be succeeded in the interim by chief financial officer Matt Vardy, Health & Protection can reveal.
The insurer confirmed the move to Health & Protection, saying that Garrad had decided the time is right for her to step away from the role and she will be leaving Axa at the end of March to pursue her career outside the organisation.
Garrad (pictured) has been chief executive of Axa Health since January 2019, after joining from HSBC where she was chief executive for the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
She was also CEO of First Direct for two years as part of her almost seven years with the wider HSBC group.
Axa Health said that during Garrad’s tenure, the firm had gone from “strength to strength, growing the business across all key segments and supporting the health and wellbeing of over 2.8 million people in the UK”.
It added that Axa Health had lived up to its aim to empower people to “live healthier, more fulfilling lives, by helping them find their way to wellbeing and better health”.
“We would like to thank Tracy for the work she has done to lead this business, and the important support that has been delivered to our members throughout her time here, as well as the very significant achievements she has driven in her role as Axa UK D&I executive sponsor,” the statement continued.
“We wish Tracy every success for the future, and we will make a further announcement in due course in respect of appointing a permanent successor.”
Matt Vardy, Axa Health CFO, will act as interim CEO on a day-to-day basis, until Axa Health finds a permanent CEO.
