Paul Newton, head of London marine hull and liability underwriting at Axa Corporate Solutions, has been appointed chairman of the Joint Hull Committee.

He succeeds Peter Townsend who stepped down in June.

Newton began work as a claims broker in 1988 before becoming an underwriter in 1991. From 2008, he has worked in the marine hull business at Allianz, Lancashire Group and, since 2013, Axa.