Nick Lane promoted to CEO AXA Japan; Brian Winikoff joins AXA US as Head of US Life, Retirement and Wealth Management

AXA S.A., a global financial protection and retirement leader, announced today that Nick Lane, currently Head of AXA US Life and Retirement, has been promoted to CEO of AXA Japan effective July 1, 2016, subject to obtaining necessary regulatory approvals. Lane will report directly to incoming AXA Group CEO, Thomas Buberl.

In announcing the promotion, Mark Pearson, CEO of AXA US said, “Nick has many great qualities as a leader and I have no doubt he will take AXA Japan to new heights. The quality I admire the most in Nick is his courage. The courage he showed in leading the market to completely revamp our annuity and life businesses has been copied by many but bettered by none. His leadership as chairman of the IRI has helped shape the retirement savings market which will enable more Americans to retire with dignity for years to come. I thank Nick for his great leadership and look forward to continuing to work with him.”

"It has been a real honor and privilege to be part of AXA US team,” said Lane. “I am greatly appreciative to have served with so many great people in helping Americans achieve dignity in retirement and protect their families.”

AXA S.A. also announced today that Brian Winikoff will be joining AXA to Head the US Life, Retirement and Wealth Management businesses and will join the US Executive Committee.

Winikoff is currently President and CEO of Crump Life Insurance Services, one of the largest independent distributors of life insurance, long term care insurance, disability insurance and annuity products in the United States.

“I am very pleased to welcome Brian to the AXA family,” Pearson said in announcing the appointment. “More than his business acumen, what attracted us most about Brian was his personal qualities. His integrity, his ability to connect and care for people and his belief in the noble purpose of our industry are the values that we hold close and make us very excited for the future. I am sure all will join me in welcoming Brian to AXA.”

“I am excited to join the leadership team at AXA,” Winikoff said. “I have a great deal of respect for AXA’s core values and approach to providing important products and solutions to its clients, and admiration for the top-notch advisors and associates throughout the organization. AXA has strong franchises in the US life, retirement and wealth management spaces today, and I believe the organization is well-positioned to lead these markets through innovation in the future. I am excited to join this talented team and world class organization.”

About AXA

“AXA” is a brand name of AXA Equitable Financial Services, LLC and its family of companies, including AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (NY, NY), MONY Life Insurance Company of America (AZ stock company, administrative office: NY, NY), AXA Advisors, LLC, and AXA Distributors, LLC. In business since 1859, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company is a leading financial protection company and one of the nation’s premier providers of life insurance, annuity, and financial products and services distributed to individuals and business owners through its retail distribution channel, AXA Advisors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC) and to the financial services market through its wholesale distribution channel, AXA Distributors, LLC.

AXA S.A. is a Paris-headquartered holding company for a group of international insurance and financial services companies, including AXA Equitable Financial Services, LLC companies. AXA S.A. is a worldwide leader in financial protection strategies and wealth management with 103 million clients in 64 countries as of December 31, 2015

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