Internal:Teams/Group Tax Department

Group Tax Department (GTD)
Parent organization	AXA SA
Parent unit	Group Finance
Global Head of Tax	Olivier Tourtoulou
Deputy Head of Tax	Gerard Bayona
Headcount	15
Locations	Paris, Madrid
Last updated	February 2026 (2026-02)

🏛️ Group Tax Department (GTD) is AXA Group's central tax function, operating as a multidisciplinary international team of experts across all tax dimensions and tax accounting areas. The department partners with the business to manage all matters relating to French and international taxation in protection of the AXA Group's interests. As of February 2026, the GTD comprises 15 members based primarily in Paris, with a secondary presence in Madrid, and coordinates a broader tax community of approximately 150 experts worldwide.

🎯 Core missions. The GTD is organized around three strategic pillars. First, it guides the AXA Group's tax strategy, approach, and communication — defining and implementing group-wide tax guidelines, proactively managing tax risks, leading tax litigations and audits, heading the Group's annual effective tax rate and consolidated tax reporting, overseeing the Pillar 2 OECD implementation, and managing the annual transfer pricing Master File, the Group Tax Transparency Report, and Country-by-Country Reporting. Second, it teams up with the Group's 14 local and business tax teams in a collaborative partnership, supporting tax audits, M&A initiatives, cross-border programs, financing transactions, tax planning, DTA protection, and withholding tax mitigation. Third, it drives an ever-stronger business partnership on transversal initiatives — contributing to M&A projects and integrating tax considerations across investments, reinsurance, treasury, legal, communications, human resources, and philanthropic activities.

📊 Team structure. The department is led by a Global Head of Tax who reports to the Group CFO, supported by a Deputy Head of Tax focused on international matters and transformation, and a Head of Tax Accounting and Reporting. The team includes senior tax managers, tax advisors, tax analysts, tax controllers, a personal assistant, an apprentice, and an intern, with an additional vacancy approved for opening.

~*~

Team organization

Reporting lines

The chart below shows reporting lines only. See the table for roles, scope, and contact details.

Olivier Tourtoulou (Global Head of Tax)
│
├── Gerard Bayona (Deputy Head of Tax)
│   │
│   ├── Soraya Sacco (Senior Tax Manager)
│   │
│   ├── Teresa Joia (Senior Tax Manager)
│   │
│   ├── Catherine Reynaud (Tax Advisor)
│   │
│   ├── Rayane Fettah (Tax Analyst Junior)
│   │
│   ├── Salimata Caillault (Tax Analyst Junior)
│   │
│   └── Véronique Pichon (Tax Analyst Junior)
│
├── Thierry Sarriau (Head of Tax Accounting and Reporting)
│   │
│   ├── Alessandro Bestazza (Tax Controller)
│   │
│   ├── Qian Zhou (Tax Controller)
│   │
│   ├── Virginia Morales Arias (Tax Controller)
│   │
│   └── Claire Andriamanantena (Intern)
│
├── Elisa Tran Duc (Personal Assistant)
│
├── Valentine Ades (Apprentice)
│
├── Ivy Fung (Head of Tax — Asian Markets, excl. Japan)
│
└── Luis Herrera (Head of Tax — International Markets)

Note: Ivy Fung and Luis Herrera are regional tax heads with a coordination line to the GTD. A new position (vacancy) has been approved under Gerard Bayona's branch and is pending recruitment.

Details per team member

The table below provides full detail on each team member's responsibilities, background, and contact information.

🏢 Group Tax Department — team overview, February 2026

Name	Title	Reports to	Role & scope	Profile	Contact
Olivier Tourtoulou	Global Head of Tax	—	Geo: global Manages the GTD and the worldwide AXA tax family Defines AXA tax strategy and ensures compliance Leads lobbying, tax audit and litigation strategy, communication on tax matters to management Monitors tax impacts on the Group P&L	Previous tax lawyer admitted to the Paris Bar; at AXA since July 2011; languages: English, knowledge of Spanish. Member of IACF, IFA (Scientific Committee), European Roundtable of Head of Tax of Insurance (PwC).	olivier.tourtoulou@axa.com +33 6 30 91 50 83
Gerard Bayona	Deputy Head of Tax (International + Transformation)	Olivier Tourtoulou	Geo: international scope (based in Madrid) Co-manages the GTD and AXA Tax Family across all dimensions Promotes transformation of the tax function including AI, knowledge management, and organizational initiatives Key partner of DCFG on international M&A deals; manages tax risks; promotes cross-border lobbying on tax reforms	Diploma in Business Administration and Master in Tax Law; at AXA since February 2018, in GTD since December 2024; languages: Spanish (native), English, French, knowledge of German. Member of AEDAF (Working Group of big corporations).	gerard.bayona@axa.com +34 691 416 668
Soraya Sacco	Senior Tax Manager	Gerard Bayona	Geo: Italy, Spain Business lines: real estate and insurance Supervises M&A projects within scope; manages all tax topics on real estate (with Rayane) and non-real estate investments (with Salimata) Monitors tax position of French holdings (AXA SA, Beaujon); leads VAT expertise and VAT group management HR tax contact (with Teresa); referent on real estate, non-real estate investment, and VAT matters	Previous tax lawyer admitted to the Paris Bar; at AXA since May 2019; languages: French, English, Italian, Persian. AXA Representative to Fiscal Committee of the Insurance Federation.	soraya.sacco@axa.com +33 6 73 75 35 02
Teresa Joia	Senior Tax Manager	Gerard Bayona	Geo: IMa, US, Japan Business lines: AXA France Units (France, Partners, Climate, AXA Banque — with Catherine), AXA XL Transfer pricing lead and referent on any transfer pricing topic Tax topics on financing initiatives and shareholder communication (with Catherine); CbCR notification; HR tax contact (with Soraya) Supervises M&A projects within scope	Master 2 Taxation, Business Law; at AXA since January 2016; languages: Portuguese (native), French, English, Spanish. Representative of AXA in Deloitte transfer pricing working group.	teresa.joia@axa.com +33 7 87 40 00 52
Catherine Reynaud	Tax Advisor	Gerard Bayona	Geo: France (AXA France units — AXA France, Partners, AXA Climate, AXA Banque, with Teresa) Follow-ups on tax audits and litigations; AXA Shareplan (with Véronique); shareholder communication (with Teresa) IFC process; French tax consolidation Insurance premium tax and local tax; VAT group (supporting Soraya) Referent on IPT and French local taxes (business tax, land tax)	Master's Degree in Applied Taxation; at AXA since May 2001; languages: French, English. AXA Representative to Fiscal Committee of Insurance Federation FA.	catherine.reynaud@axa.com +33 6 73 75 34 77
Rayane Fettah	Tax Analyst Junior	Gerard Bayona	Geo: Germany, Switzerland, Belgium Business lines: AXA GO (with Salimata), real estate (with Soraya) Supports M&A projects; philanthropic actions/mécénat (with Olivier); supports transfer pricing (Teresa) and real estate taxation (Soraya) Knowledge management initiative (with Salimata) Referent for tax dimension of any philanthropic project	Master in Tax Law & Management; at AXA since October 2024; languages: French, English.	rayane.fettah@axa.com +33 6 85 97 85 01
Salimata Caillault	Tax Analyst Junior	Gerard Bayona	Geo: AXA HK, Asia Business lines: AXA GO (with Rayane); special projects, partnerships Supports M&A on scope; special projects (partnerships, business initiatives, e-invoicing) Knowledge management initiative (with Rayane); taxation of Group non-real estate investments (supporting Soraya) Referent on GIE topics	Master in Taxation, Business Law, Consulting and Business Management, and Tax and Customs Law; at AXA since July 2025; languages: French, English.	salimata.caillault@axa.com +33 6 85 18 47 04
Véronique Pichon	Tax Analyst Junior	Gerard Bayona	Geo: UK, Ireland FATCA/ CRS lead; Shareplan (with Catherine); point of contact for DAC 6 reporting tool Operational risks, internal audit and internal controls; annual certification of compliance with AXA Tax Code of Ethics Coordination of quarterly Group Tax Newsletter; transformation and internal organization (AI); R&D tax credits Referent for FATCA, CRS, and tax research credits	BA / Master 1 International Business & Marketing; at AXA since July 2007; languages: French, English.	veronique.pichon@axa.com +33 6 70 75 16 50
Thierry Sarriau	Head of Tax Accounting and Reporting	Olivier Tourtoulou	Geo: global (tax accounting and reporting) Contributes to GTD and AXA tax family management; drives group tax accounting guidelines and technical positions Analyzes and optimizes income taxes in IFRS accounts; leads ETR and deferred tax analysis; communication on tax accounting to management and auditors Oversees UTP reporting, DTA monetization, IAS 12 compliance; implements Pillar 2; manages tax process for deferred compensation Tax transparency: supervises CbCR	DESCF (Diploma in Advanced Studies in Accounting and Finance); at AXA since March 2005; languages: French, English, Spanish. AXA representative in ACTEO.	thierry.sarriau@axa.com +33 6 82 60 74 87
Alessandro Bestazza	Tax Controller	Thierry Sarriau	Geo: Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Italy); International (US, SEA, EME LATAM, Japan); Transversal (AXA SA, AXA Holdings, AXA Go) Analyzes and monitors income taxes in IFRS accounts Manages Group tax transparency: CbCR preparation, annual tax transparency report, third-party questionnaires (DJSI, AFEP) Contributes to improvement of the tax dimension of Group tools	MSc in Business and Economics; at AXA since October 2023, in GTD since June 2025; languages: Italian, English, French (beginner).	alessandro.bestazza@axa.com +33 6 85 23 13 30
Qian Zhou	Tax Controller	Thierry Sarriau	Geo: Europe (AXA France, UK, Ireland, Belgium, Spain, AXA Ima); International (US, HK, Asia); Transversal (AXA SA, AXA Holdings, AXA Assistance, AXA Partner, AXA Go) Analyzes and monitors income taxes in IFRS accounts Manages Group tax transparency: CbCR preparation, annual tax transparency report, third-party questionnaires (DJSI, AFEP) Contributes to improvement of the tax dimension of Group tools	Master's degree, Toulouse Business School — Management controlling, Governance and risk management; at AXA since February 2020; languages: French, English, Chinese.	qian.zhou@axa.com +33 6 73 87 31 93
Virginia Morales Arias	Tax Controller	Thierry Sarriau	Geo: t.b.d. New team member joining from March 1, 2026	—	—
Claire Andriamanantena	Intern	Thierry Sarriau	Geo: t.b.d. Internship: October 2025 – July 2026	—	claire.andriamanantena@axa.com
Elisa Tran Duc	Personal Assistant	Olivier Tourtoulou	Geo: n.a. PA to Group Tax team: manages schedules, meeting rooms, and business trips Handles HR/IT onboarding/outboarding requests; manages paper and network archives Supports mail correspondence with stakeholders (tax authorities); manages GTD SharePoint Manages Coupa process: issues POs, communicates with providers, ensures timely payment	Diploma in Administrative Assistance, French degree Advanced Technician's; at AXA since December 2025; languages: French, English.	elisa.tranduc@axa.com +33 6 30 45 99 26
Valentine Ades	Apprentice	Olivier Tourtoulou	Geo: t.b.d. Apprenticeship: September 2025 – August 2026	—	valentine.ades@axa.com
Ivy Fung	Head of Tax — Asian Markets (excl. Japan)	Olivier Tourtoulou	Geo: Asian Markets (Japan excluded) Regional tax head with coordination line to GTD	—	ivy.fung@axa.com.hk +852 3702 2053
Luis Herrera	Head of Tax — International Markets	Olivier Tourtoulou	Geo: International Markets Regional tax head with coordination line to GTD	—	luis.herrera@axa.com +34 629 200 487