Evans takes over from Tidjane Thiam, Prudential's group chief executive, who will complete his two-year term as chairman tomorrow.
He has been group chief executive of Axa UK since October 2010, having previously been chief Executive of AXA Life.
Having sat on the ABI's long-term savings and life Insurance committee between 2003 and 2010, he became chairman of the ABI's general insurance committee and a deputy chairman of the ABI board.
He said he was look forward to working with ABI director general Otto Thoresen and his team to continue pressing for reforms “whether from Government, regulators, or from ourselves – where they are most needed."
