After 25 years with the AXA Group, Nicolas Denys joined MAXIS as Chief Underwriting Officer in February 2025. Now he’s had some time to settle into his life with us, we sat down with him to find out how he’s found his first couple of months, his key priorities for the role and some career highlights.
And to get to know Nicolas better, we asked him what he gets up to outside of work and what his hidden talent is!
1. Now you’re a bit more settled into life with MAXIS – can you tell us how you’ve found your first couple of months here?
The team at MAXIS is incredibly friendly, passionate and committed and it’s been an excellent first couple of months. I’m based in Paris, but the Underwriting team is split between Paris and London, so it’s been important to share my time across the two cities to make sure I get to know everyone in the team and see how we can all work together.
It’s been great to have the opportunity to meet so many colleagues from other teams around the business in such a short space of time. I was lucky enough to head to Mexico for the Americas Business Development kick-off in February which gave me the chance to meet some of my US-based colleagues – this was really valuable so early on. Of course, I have to focus on what the Underwriting team can achieve, but it’s also really important to get to know the whole team at MAXIS and understand how we can work well together.
I’ve also been able to meet some network members and clients already. Of course, it will take time to meet everyone, but it’s been a great start and everyone has been very welcoming.
2. And can you tell us a bit more about your new role as Chief Underwriting Officer?
My main responsibility is overseeing the quality of the business that is reinsured by MAXIS. Nicola Fordham built a very strong Underwriting function and the team has done lots of fantastic work in defining our risk appetite. My role is to continue building on this foundation by deepening our understanding of various markets. This is crucial not only for MAXIS’ profitability but also for ensuring that we continue to meet – and exceed – our clients’ expectations.
Nicola is extremely knowledgeable and passionate, and it has been great to have her around, even though she’s very busy in her new role as our Chief Solutions Officer. She’s dedicated a lot of time to explaining all the different processes and procedures, so a huge thanks to Nicola for helping set me up for success!
3. What are some of your key priorities as you take on your new role?
An important part of my role is driving transformation – I’ve said to my team that we cannot stay as we are; we must constantly evolve! This transformation will help us become more efficient, continue to grow and meet the needs of our clients.
It’s also vital that we continue working to ensure long-term profitability and advancing our knowledge of new markets so that we can remain leaders in the EB space – these will be key priorities of mine too.
4. And what are some of the challenges you think you and your team will face?
I think that one of the main challenges is to ensure effective collaboration, both internally and with external stakeholders. Our processes involve a number of people and we must remember that if there are ‘too many cooks in the kitchen’, the dish won't be very good!
Making sure we collaborate well and communicate effectively – and with respect – will be key to working well as a team and reaching our shared goals.
5. You joined MAXIS from the AXA Group – can you tell us a bit about your career so far?
I’ve had an enriching career with AXA over the last 25 years, where I’ve gained valuable experience in different roles from underwriting and pricing, to strategy, finance and risk. All these roles have led me to where I am today and have prepared me for this next exciting challenge.
My career highlights include working on transversal and impactful projects during my time at AXA and building strong relationships with local entities and other Corporate Centre departments. This has definitely helped shape my approach towards complex challenges which is something I’ll bring into my role as Chief Underwriting Officer. My experience also means I have a good understanding of the relationship between MAXIS and AXA, and the expectations of the shareholders, and I’m hopeful that this insight will be beneficial to the MAXIS team.
6. And is there anything you’re particularly looking forward to in your first year at MAXIS?
Overall, I'm looking forward to collaborating with the talented teams around the business, driving transformation initiatives and contributing to MAXIS’ growth. It's an exciting time to be part of the organisation and I’m eager to see the positive impact we can have together.
Something I’m particularly excited for is the 2025 MAXIS MeetUp in Italy this September. This all-staff event will see the global team get together for two days where we’ll plan for future success together, learn lots and, of course, have some fun. It’s great to have the opportunity to attend such a special event in my first year at MAXIS.
7. Can you tell us what you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I like to stay active with sports. I also enjoy travelling to new places and spending quality time with friends and family. All these things help me recharge and keep my life balanced.
8. And, finally, do you have any hidden talents you can share?
Cooking is one of my hidden talents! I love experimenting in the kitchen and creating delicious meals to share with loved ones. My daughter also loves cooking and wants to be a pastry chef when she grows up, so I like to think I might have inspired her with this passion!