- Gerald Harlin, deputy CFO, executive vice-president, Finance and Control - Mark Pearson, CEO, AXA Life Japan & AXA Japan Holdings PARIS, July 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AXA announces the appointment of two new members to the Group executive committee: Gerald Harlin, deputy CFO, executive vice-president, Finance and Control since March 2003, and Mark Pearson, AXA Life Japan & AXA Japan Holdings CEO since June 30, 2008. Gerald Harlin - short biography: Gerald Harlin, 52, joined the AXA Group in 1990 as corporate treasurer. In 1991, he became head of corporate finance, a position he held until 1994. He was subsequently appointed CFO of AXA Asset Management Europe and managing director of AXA Banque in 1994. In 1997, he became chief investment officer of AXA France and then in 2000 market program manager of AXA France in charge of CRM and product marketing. In 2001, he was named CFO of AXA France, a position he held until March 2003. Before joining the AXA Group, Gerald Harlin occupied various responsibilities in Total's corporate finance department. Mark Pearson - short biography: Mark Pearson, 49, joined the AXA Group in 1995 when AXA acquired a controlling interest in National Mutual (today AXA Asia Pacific Holdings). He was then CEO of National Mutual Asia, and thanks to this operation became CEO of AXA China Region, AXA's Hong Kong-based subsidiary. In 2001, he was appointed CEO of AXA Asia Life, the platform for AXA life activities in Asia. Mark Pearson had previously spent more than 15 years in the insurance sector, assuming many senior manager positions at National Mutual and Friends Provident. About the AXA Group Executive Committee The Executive Committee of the AXA group is now composed of 16 members: -- Jean-Raymond Abat, chief executive officer of the Mediterranean Region, -- Alfred Bouckaert, member of the management board, chief executive officer for Northern, Central and Eastern Europe, -- Claude Brunet, member of the management board, in charge of transversal operations, human resources, marketing and communications, -- Henri de Castries, chairman of the management board, -- Christopher Condron, member of the management board, president and chief executive officer of AXA Financial, Inc. (United States), -- John R. Dacey, chief executive officer for Japan, Asia-Pacific Region, -- Denis Duverne, member of the management board, Group chief financial officer, -- Philippe Egger, chief executive officer of insurance activities in Switzerland, -- Gerald Harlin, deputy chief financial officer, executive vice-president finance and control, -- Frank Keuper, chief executive officer of AXA Konzern AG (Germany), -- Gerald Lieberman, president and chief operating officer of AllianceBernstein (United States), -- Nicolas Moreau, chief executive officer of AXA UK & Ireland and chairman of the board of directors of AXA Investment Managers, -- Mark Pearson, chief executive officer of AXA Life Japan and AXA Japan Holdings, -- Andrew Penn, chief executive officer of AXA Asia-Pacific Holdings (Australia), -- Francois Pierson, member of the management board, chairman and chief executive officer of AXA France, responsible for large risks, assistance and AXA Canada, -- Eugene Teysen, chief executive officer of insurance and bank activities in Belgium. The executive committee's principal mission is to review Group strategy. It is mainly composed of members of AXA's management board and CEOs of the Group's principal subsidiaries and/or business units. The 16 members of the Group's executive committee meet quarterly to conduct quarterly business reviews (QBRs), introduced in 2000 to provide a clear and consistent framework for: -- reviewing operational performance and monitoring the progress of key projects using quantifiable standards of measurement defined in collaboration with the management board; -- assessing the status of transversal projects; and -- exchanging ideas and information on key strategic orientations. As an internal management committee, the executive committee has no formal decision making authority. Its principal role is to assist the management board in effectively managing the Group's operating businesses, considering strategic initiatives and such other areas as the management board deems appropriate. About AXA AXA Group is a worldwide leader in Financial Protection. AXA's operations are diverse geographically, with major operations in Europe, North America and the Asia/Pacific area. AXA had Euro 1,281 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2007. For full year 2007, IFRS revenues amounted to Euro 93.6 billion and IFRS adjusted earnings to Euro 6.1 billion. The AXA ordinary share is listed on compartment A of Euronext Paris under the ticker symbol CS (ISIN FR0000120628 - Bloomberg: CS FP - Reuters: AXAF.PA). The American Depository Share is also listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol AXA. This press release is available on the AXA Group website: http://www.axa.com/ IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements contained herein are forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements that are predications of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Please refer to AXA's Annual Report on Form 20-F and AXA's Document de Reference for the year ended December 31, 2007, for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect AXA's business. In particular, please refer to the section "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in AXA's Annual Report on Form 20-F. AXA undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. DATASOURCE: AXA Group CONTACT: Investor Relations, Etienne Bouas-Laurent, +33-1-40-75-46-85, Paul-Antoine Cristofari, +33-1-40-75-73-60, Emmanuel Touzeau, +33-1-40-75-49-05, George Guerrero, +1-212-314-2868, Mary Taylor, +1-212-314-5845; or Media Relations, Christophe Dufraux, +33-1-40-75-46-74, Clara Rodrigo, +33-1-40-75-47-22, Laurent Secheret, +33-1-40-75-48-17, Armelle Vercken, +33-1-40-75-46-42, all of AXA Web site: http://www.axa-equitable.com/

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