Rising Star: Denzel Simons
Denzel Simons started his career within the Chubb Bermuda Excess Liability team, supporting, managing and ultimately developing a book of Fortune 1000 companies across various industries.
Today, Simons is vice president, casualty at Relm Insurance, where he leads the casualty product offering with a primary focus on emerging industries. Collaborating with key distribution partners, Simons is focused on contributing towards Bermuda’s value proposition as a premier jurisdiction for insurance products and related services.
Can you start by telling us what inspired your career?
My first university and summer internship was in the facilities department at Chubb Bermuda. A glorious institution – a well-oiled machine. There was always a constant thought: who were these men in suits, who were these distinguished women, and why on earth were they always in a rush? I applied to the second annual Chubb select internship programme and was one of six selected to participate. It didn’t take long to understand that underwriting was the career for me.
What elements of your career do you enjoy most and why?
Bermuda remains a premier jurisdiction, providing solution-oriented insurance products for early start-ups all the way to global enterprises; a dynamic insurance ecosystem in which I get to play a supporting role as an underwriter. As my career has developed, I continue to have the privilege of collaborating with mature Fortune 1000 companies and, more recently, key stakeholders in burgeoning emerging industry sectors.
Can you share an example of a challenge you overcame that significantly shaped your career trajectory?
I have found trusted confidants, mentors and role models in great men and women in professional industries in Bermuda. This has given me a platform to enhance my own skills in certain events and situations.
In my current role, I was supported to develop our casualty portfolio offering primary capacity for emerging industries. I collaborated with the actuarial and claims teams to build a more data-driven approach while enhancing our assessment framework. This collaboration allowed us to offer a valued primary product offering within the Bermuda market. At the same time, we are driving new clients to Bermuda who find a valued partnership with our company.
What are your career ambitions? And how will you work to achieve them?
As a Bermudian casualty underwriter, my ambition is to share my happiness as a leading underwriter who effectively manages complex and profitable risk while simultaneously contributing to shaping Bermuda’s reputation as a global centre of excellence in speciality and commercial insurance products. I’d like to ensure Bermuda continues to lead in performance, distinction and continuity.
How do you stay motivated and continue to learn in such a dynamic sector?
To stay current is to remain relevant within our industry. It is common for jurisdictions to try to ‘eat each other’s lunch’. So, how can we prevent that? My motivation grows by listening to every risk telling a different story, and understanding those nuances keeps the work fresh and intellectually rewarding.
I’m driven by curiosity and the desire to anticipate how emerging trends – from evolving liability exposures to shifts in legal and regulatory environments – will shape the market. The combination of challenge, collaboration and the opportunity to represent Bermuda on the world stage keeps me engaged and passionate about what I do every day.
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