Liberty enters equine and livestock markets with Markel hires

Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM) has entered the equine and livestock markets with the appointment of Julian Bowen-Rees as the global head for these lines, based in Virginia, US.

Bowen-Rees has over 30 years of experience in equine insurance, and joins from Markel, where he served as managing director of equine.

He will report to LSM chief underwriting officer Michael Gosselin, and will be supported by Emma Leslie-Miller, who joins as an underwriter.

LSM has also hired Jeremy Chappell from Markel to lead the equine division, joining in early 2018.

Further to these appointments, LSM has stated that it will continue to establish teams of equine and livestock underwriters in both the US and London.

The equine and livestock teams will write business globally with a focus on the US, the UK, Ireland, Europe, South Africa and Australasia.

The Equine book will offer a number of products including mortality, liability and farm package and will include a wide range of breeds and their associated uses. Livestock will include both animals in situ and in transit.

LSM said the team is able to underwrite a wide range of livestock, from pedigree cattle to giant pandas and other exotic animals.

Gosselin said: “Julian, Emma and Jeremy’s appointments introduce LSM to a new and exciting product area, in which our unique perspective will create considerable opportunities.  We’ve been able to create a powerful combination of experience and expertise framed by our analytical abilities which will be highly attractive to both our broker partners and their clients.

“As an industry-leading underwriter, Julian has a career-long track record of building successful teams on both sides of the Atlantic.  His recent experience working in the United States combined with a long-established career in London demonstrates his understanding of the complexities of these industries within a global marketplace, and also his first-hand knowledge of the wide-ranging issues within these sectors."

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