Markel attracts Allianz talent to expand in key Asian market

Markel International has expanded its presence in an “important market for insurance in Asia” with the hiring of new financial line and marine practitioners, most recently from  Allianz Global, to build out its local underwriting presence in the region.

The insurer has moved to a larger office in Hong Kong as it aims to develop and grow its specialist expertise within the region. Markel’s Hong Kong office provides directors’ and officers’ liability (D&O), professional indemnity (PI), hull, marine liability and war cover for insureds.

The new expanded Hong Kong premise will also enable further hires to address the specific needs for customers in the region, the company said in a statement.

In tandem with the expansion, Markel Hong Kong has appointed Crysten Fok as a specialist financial lines underwriter. Fok’s appointment will add to Markel’s financial lines underwriting capabilities with special emphasis on Hong Kong.

Fok will report to Gordon Lam, senior underwriter and responsible officer for Markel Hong Kong, where she will help to enhance the organisation’s financial lines capabilities in Hong Kong and North Asia, respectively.

With more than seven years of experience in the insurance industry, Fok was previously a senior underwriter with Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty.

Fok’s appointment follows the hiring of Zita Fok, who joined Markel Hong Kong as a specialist marine underwriter in July 2022.

Christian Stobbs (Pictured), managing director of Markel International in Asia, said: “As an international financial and trading hub, Hong Kong remains an important market for insurance in Asia. We are encouraged by the growth of our business in recent years and are pleased to be increasing our local underwriting presence.

“With our new office, we hope to continue to attract strong underwriting talent to build the best specialist insurer in the region. Working in partnership with our offices across Asia Pacific, we’re proud of the growth of our underwriting capability in the region and look forward to continuing to provide the best of our ‘on-the-ground expertise’ to customers, wherever they are based.”

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