Axis Max Life Insurance Management Team

Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd

Sumit Madan is the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Axis Max Life Insurance and brings over 25 years of extensive experience in establishing and scaling businesses with strategic clarity, people-centric leadership and operational rigor in high-growth and turnaround environments.

He has held various leadership roles at premier financial institutions. At Citibank, he managed diverse portfolios across geographies and consistently delivered results in challenging markets, building a strong reputation for reviving underperforming business units by bringing strategic clarity, operational discipline, and people-focused leadership to complex, high-pressure situations. His focus on driving transformation through deep customer understanding and ability to translate insights into impactful actions were instrumental in these turnarounds. At AU Small Finance Bank, he built the branch network from the ground up, played a pivotal role during its transformation from a NBFC to a scheduled small commercial bank and contributed significantly to the success of its IPO. At IDFC FIRST Bank, Sumit scaled the branch banking operations and strengthened the retail franchise by driving customer acquisition, deepening engagement, and enhancing productivity. His efforts were marked by a sharp focus on customer-centric metrics and business performance indicators, reinforcing his ability to build efficient, high-impact distribution engines.

Since joining Axis Max Life as Chief Distribution Officer in February 2024, Sumit has been instrumental in strengthening the company’s distribution franchise across proprietary and partnership channels. Under his leadership, Axis Max Life has deepened its bancassurance partnership with Axis Bank, expanded its proprietary agency network, and built new-age distribution models that significantly enhanced customer reach and business growth. His ability to integrate technology with distribution strategies has played a pivotal role in positioning Axis Max Life among the fastest-growing private life insurers in the country.

Under Sumit’s leadership, Axis Max Life has not only sustained its growth momentum but also achieved key milestones, climbing to the #4 position in FY25 and entering the top 3 among private life insurers in the second half of the year. This growth was powered by strong gains across proprietary channels, category leadership, and an accelerated partner expansion strategy. The company achieved the #1 rank in both E-commerce and Protection penetration among top private insurers, while also expanding distribution with over 50 new partners, including three strategic bancassurance alliances, and strengthening its counter share in open architecture partnerships.

As CEO of Axis Max Life, Sumit’s focus is on accelerating the company’s growth momentum and deeply committed to Axis Max Life’s long-term vision of securing financial futures for millions of Indian households while contributing to the regulator’s goal of “Insurance for All by 2047.”

Director and Chief Financial Officer

Amrit Singh serves as the Chief Financial Officer at Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd, where he leads the company's financial strategy, ensuring robust business planning, budgeting, and financial management.

With nearly two decades of extensive experience, Amrit joined Axis Max Life in 2013 and has since spearheaded various high-impact teams, including strategy, advanced analytics, investor relations, and group business. His strategic acumen has been instrumental in steering numerous initiatives focused on growth and profitability, significantly enhancing the company's market position.

Amrit's career includes prior leadership roles at Religare, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Infosys, where he honed his expertise in finance and strategic management. His diverse background and deep industry knowledge have equipped him with the skills to navigate complex financial landscapes and deliver exceptional results.

Academically, Amrit holds a degree in Computers from Pune University and a Postgraduate degree in Management from the prestigious Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad. His academic foundation, combined with his professional experience, positions him as a formidable leader in the financial sector.

Director, General Counsel & Company Secretary, Head of ESG

Anurag steers the Legal, Compliance, Regulatory, Governance functions at Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd. In his current capacity, Anurag oversees corporate governance, expertly leading all interactions with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), and other industry and regulatory stakeholders. He also champions Axis Max Life's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments, steering the organization towards sustainable and ethical business practices.

Since joining Axis Max Life in 2013, Anurag has earned numerous accolades, including the Best Corporate Governance Award by ASSOCHAM and by Golden Peacock (2016), Legal Era’s Best Legal Department in India (Insurance) Award (2015 & 2016), Best Use of Technology in Legal 2018, Legal Team of the Year 2019 by India Legal Awards, Best Legal Department in Insurance in Asia Award (2022), Legal Department of the Year (Insurance) by BIZ Asia Legal Award 2022, one of the Top 100 General Counsel in India by Business World Legal (2021) and (2024), Forbes GC List 2024, ET- Sustainable Organisation 2023 and 24.

With over 24 years of extensive experience, Anurag has previously held pivotal roles in renowned organizations such as Deutsche Bank, Bharti Airtel, and Escorts Finance. His robust legal background is complemented by a law degree, a Master of Business Laws from National Law School, Bangalore, and a Leadership degree from the Indian School of Business. He is also a fellow member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. Beyond his professional achievements, Anurag is a certified Yoga Teacher and passionately practices and teaches yoga. He is also committed to community services.

Senior Director and Appointed Actuary

Jose John serves as the Senior Director & Appointed Actuary (AA) at Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd, where he leads the Actuarial function of the Company. In addition, he also oversees and guides the Internal Audit function.

Jose was appointed as the AA in 2014 and since then has contributed significantly to various transformations and initiatives in the areas of Regulatory and Shareholder Financial Reporting, Policyholder and Shareholder Value creation, Financial Risk Management and Product Design/financial assessments. His decade-long association with Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd has also witnessed contributions in advancing the Company’s governance arrangements where he has been a member of the various Board Committees of the Company, mainly the Risk, Investment, Product and Policyholder Protection Committees.

Throughout his tenure, Jose has also been a member of various industry and regulatory committees, making proposals on various matters related to the running of the insurance business in India. Currently, he is also the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) sponsor at Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd, where he champions a vision of fostering an inclusive workplace that values diverse perspectives and drives equitable opportunities for all employees.

Prior to joining Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd, Jose's career was predominantly based in the United Kingdom, where he held various Actuarial leadership roles at Prudential and MetLife in their London/Reading offices. Jose is a Fellow of both the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, UK, and the Institute of Actuaries of India. He also holds an MBA from Cardiff Business School, UK.

Senior Director and Chief Operations Officer

Manu Lavanya is the Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd, bringing almost three decades of experience in creating, transforming, and scaling businesses across diverse industry domains and geographies, including the US, Latin America, Eastern Europe, the UK, and India.

As COO, Manu provides executive leadership to Operations, Digital and Technology, Analytics, Underwriting, Customer Experience, Renewals and Claims and Quality, Innovation & Service Excellence. At Axis Max Life, Manu’s leadership is pivotal in shaping our Digital Transformation agenda, driving the Operations and Customer excellence, and fostering a quality culture that ensures superior customer experience.

Manu's extensive career includes a tenure as Global Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director at Incedo, a global Digital services firm. Prior to Incedo, he played a key role in creating and scaling Brillio, a Silicon Valley-based digital services organization. In his role of MD and Head of India Operations, Manu provided Delivery and P&L leadership to the organization. Before Brillio, Manu had an extensive leadership stint in Cognizant where he provided P&L leadership to multiple Industry Verticals and geographies across the globe, including the firm’s expansion to newer geographies of Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Manu began his career with ITC Ltd., managing multiple roles in plant maintenance, quality management, production management, operations control, and ERP implementation. His robust foundation in operational excellence and strategic leadership is complemented by his academic credentials, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Technology from IIT Kanpur and an MBA from the Indian School of Business (ISB).

Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer

Rahul leads the marketing, corporate communications, and consumer insights initiatives at Axis Max Life. Rahul's leadership is pivotal in elevating the company's brand and forging strategic marketing partnerships that help strengthen Axis Max Life's brand positioning in the Indian life insurance industry.

Since joining Axis Max Life in 2018, Rahul has been the architect behind the award-winning brand philosophy ‘You are the Difference,’ launched in 2019. Under his leadership, Axis Max Life's marketing strategy has emphasized communicating trust and promoting mindful financial protection and planning, distinguishing the company in a competitive market.

A seasoned marketing professional with over 17 years of experience, Rahul has previously excelled in the FMCG sector with companies such as PepsiCo India, Pladis India (McVitie’s Biscuits), and the Aditya Birla Group. At PepsiCo India, he successfully managed the brand agenda for trademarks including Lay’s Chips, 7up, and Mirinda, showcasing his prowess in brand stewardship.

Rahul's contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards such as The Economic Times Best BFSI Brands 2022 and WCRCInt India’s Most Trusted Brands 2022. His academic credentials include an MBA in Marketing from IMT, Ghaziabad, and a degree from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, reflecting his strong foundation in business and marketing.

Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer

Sachin stands as a pillar of leadership at Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd, helming the Investments function with unparalleled expertise and strategic vision. As Head of Investments, Sachin formulates and executes investment strategies, driving the company towards sustained growth and exceptional performance. His leadership encompasses guiding a team of highly qualified investment professionals, ensuring robust and consistent results across both traditional and ULIP funds.

With a distinguished career spanning over 25 years, Sachin is a seasoned investment professional whose experience encompasses banking, insurance, investment advisory, and business and strategic planning. His tenure at leading companies such as DLF Pramerica Life Insurance, Max New York Life Insurance, and Bank of America underscores his deep industry knowledge and strategic acumen. He has been with the company for over 20 years and has been instrumental in managing the growth of assets and developing innovative fund strategies, investment policies, and product solutions that have significantly contributed to the company's success.

Sachin's academic credentials include an MBA from MDI Gurgaon, reflecting his strong foundation in business and investment management. His enduring commitment to excellence and strategic foresight continues to elevate Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd, positioning it at the forefront of the industry.

Director and Chief Risk Officer

As the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) at Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd, Sachin is responsible for the strategic oversight and embedding Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) across the organization, as well as fostering a culture of resilience, innovation and learning. Sachin's tenure as CRO has been marked by his transformative approach to risk management, evolving the ERM function from a governance centric function to a strategic powerhouse by implementing industry leading frameworks to safeguard key risk areas.

Sachin exemplifies industry stewardship through his visionary leadership and over 22 years of comprehensive experience in Enterprise Risk Management, Product Development & Pricing, Reinsurance, Business Planning, Shareholder & Regulatory Reporting, Channel Marketing, and Software Development.

Sachin has been with Axis Max Life for over 17 years and has been honored with the CEO’s Award and the Chairman’s Award for his pioneering work in developing market-leading products and implementing industry-first hedging capabilities through derivatives. His excellence was further recognized when he was named a finalist for the ‘Corporate Risk Manager of the Year 2020’ by Asia Insurance Review and awarded CRO of the Year 2020 by UBS Forums.

Sachin's professional journey includes significant roles at prestigious global firms such as ICICI Prudential, Accenture, and Cognizant Technology Solutions. His diverse experience has honed his strategic thinking, collaboration, result orientation, growth mindset, and learning curiosity — attributes that define his leadership style.

An accomplished actuary, Sachin is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, UK, and the Institute of Actuaries of India. He holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Varanasi, underscoring his strong analytical and technical foundation.

Senior Director and Chief People Officer

Shailesh Singh is a preeminent leader in human resources, with a distinguished career spanning over 25 years in shaping world-class people agendas and organizational culture. As the Senior Director and Chief People Officer at Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd, Shailesh is the architect of transformative HR strategies that drive the company's long-term growth and evolution. Under his stewardship, Axis Max Life Insurance has received the prestigious designation of a ‘Great Place to Work,’ setting benchmarks for organizational culture and people practices at the highest global standards earning the coveted ‘Laureate’ status by the Great Place to Work® (GPTW®) Institute, an exclusive honour given to organisations recognized for the 10th year in India's 'Best Companies to Work For' list.

A visionary in talent management, Shailesh pioneered the Organisation & Talent Review process at Axis Max Life, ensuring a robust and proactive approach to building a dynamic talent pool and succession plans. His commitment to living and promoting Axis Max Life's core values through leadership role modeling and integrated HR processes has been instrumental in fostering a culture of excellence and integrity.

Beyond his contributions to HR, Shailesh spearheads Axis Max Life’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, reinforcing the company's societal engagement and commitment to community development. His leadership extends to enhancing team value, raising engagement levels, and cultivating talent and leadership across the organization.

Before joining Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd, Shailesh held multiple HR leadership roles across diverse sectors, including GE Energy, GE Supply Chain, GE Capital, SRF Finance, Eicher Tractors, and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Notably, he served as the Regional HR Head for GE Energy, overseeing operations in Africa, India, and the Middle East from Dubai for five years.

Shailesh's academic credentials include a graduate degree from Delhi University and a postgraduate degree from the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), Gujarat.