AXA Equitable Names Kermitt Brooks Associate General Counsel

NEW YORK, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- AXA Equitable Life Insurance Co. announced today that Kermitt Brooks, most recently an official with the New York State Insurance Department (NYSID), has been named Associate General Counsel responsible for the insurance products practice group with the AXA Equitable law department.

Mr. Brooks, with the insurance department since 2007, was First Deputy Superintendent responsible for the Life Bureau, including a stint as Acting Superintendent in 2009. Prior to joining the NYSID, he was Deputy Attorney General of Operations at the New York State Office of the Attorney General from 2002 to 2007.

"We are very fortunate to have someone of Kermitt's stature and management experience joining our team," said Dave Hattem, AXA Equitable general counsel. "His experience advising the superintendent and as an advocate for strong, progressive regulation and consumer protection will further enhance our ability to bring new and innovative products to market, and better serve our customers. Kermitt clearly embodies the values that have made the New York Insurance Department a leader in state insurance regulation."

As Associate General Counsel, Mr. Brooks will manage the AXA Equitable legal team responsible for insurance products and related matters. He will also play a significant role in the company's government relations efforts. He joins the company on April 5.

As First Deputy Superintendent at the NYSID, Mr. Brooks directed all aspects of the Life Bureau, overseeing more than 200 staffers responsible for 179 life insurers representing nearly 20 percent of the U.S. life insurance market. He drove the department's successful effort to help craft landmark legislation enacted in New York State to regulate the life settlements industry. He also assisted in developing model regulations affecting capital and reserve requirements and accounting standards that have been adopted by state insurance departments throughout the U.S.    

Prior to joining the Attorney General's office in New York, Mr. Brooks held positions at Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. and at the law firm Nixon, Peabody LLP. He holds a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from James Madison College at Michigan State University.

About AXA Equitable

In business since 1859, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (NY, NY) is a leading financial protection company and one of the nation's premier providers of life insurance and annuity products, as well as investment products and services through its affiliates, including, AXA Advisors, LLC. The company's products and services are distributed to individuals and business owners through its retail distribution channel, AXA Advisors; to the financial services market through its wholesale distribution channel, AXA Distributors, LLC.

AXA Equitable, a subsidiary of AXA Financial Inc., is part of the global AXA Group, a worldwide leader in financial protection strategies and wealth management. "AXA Group" refers to AXA, a French holding company for an international group of insurance and financial services companies together with its direct and indirect consolidated subsidiaries. For more information, visit www.axa-equitable.com. Guarantees are backed solely by the claims-paying ability of AXA Equitable.

SOURCE AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company