Markel Corporation CFO and vice chair to step down

Anne Waleski, executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) of Markel Corporation and its vice chairman Michael Crowley are set to step down from their current positions.

Waleski plans to transition from her role as CFO of the company by the end of the first quarter of 2019. She will be succeeded by Jeremy Noble, currently the finance director of Markel International. Over the course of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019, the company plans to transition the duties and responsibilities of the CFO to Noble.

Vice chairman Crowley has informed the company of his plan to retire on December 31, 2017. During a period that will span through the end of 2018, he will transition his duties and responsibilities as well as his relationships with key producers and clients to designated employees of the company. Beginning in 2019, Crowley has agreed to consult for the company.

Richard Whitt, III, the co-chief executive officer, said: "Anne and I have worked closely together almost from the day she joined Markel. The significant success we have enjoyed at Markel is a direct result of Anne's many contributions. I want to thank Anne for her willingness to work with Jeremy and our finance team over the next year to assure a smooth transition. We are very fortunate to have a deep bench of talented professionals. Finally, we are excited for Anne as she makes more time to pursue her many other passions."

Waleski has been the company's CFO since 2010, and was promoted to executive vice president in 2014. She joined the Company in 1993 and served in several management positions before being named the company's treasurer in 2003.

Noble has served as the finance director for Markel International since June 2015. He joined Markel in 2002 and held various roles in the accounting and finance department, including assistant controller, before becoming the company's managing director of internal audit in 2011, a position he held until 2015.

"Jeremy is a great choice for the role of chief financial officer," said Whitt. "Like Anne, Jeremy has spent a large portion of his career at Markel. He possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience across the various disciplines of accounting, audit, and finance, as well as deep understanding of our various operations, both domestically and internationally, including insurance and Markel Ventures. We look forward to working more closely with him as he assumes his new role."

Prior to being named vice chairman in August 2016, Crowley served as the president and co-chief operating officer of Markel Corporation from May 2010 to December 2015. In this role, he had oversight for Markel's US wholesale and specialty insurance operations, global insurance, product line group, human resources, and corporate marketing. Crowley joined Markel in February 2009 as president of Markel Specialty and he served in that role until April 2010.

Prior to joining Markel, Crowley served as president of Willis/HRH North America and as president and chief operating officer of Hilb, Rogal & Hobbs, which was acquired by Willis in 2008.

Alan Kirshner, the company's executive chairman and chairman of the board, remarked: "Markel is so fortunate to have benefited from Mike's industry knowledge, managerial experience, and relationships throughout the insurance industry. He truly has contributed much to Markel's success. We wish him the best in his retirement."

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