Markel merges key business lines with Allianz/Aspen hires to stay relevant in ‘complex’ market

Markel International, a subsidiary of Markel Corporation, is to merge its professional and financial risks division with its expanded cyber team, in a bid to make its offering more attractive to brokers and insureds in a highly complex market environment.

The decision to merge the two divisions, Markel said, is part of the wholesale business’ efforts to simplify the trading experience for its broking partners and make its product offerings to insureds “as innovative, comprehensive, and relevant as possible”, in a fast-moving and increasingly complex risk environment.

As part of the move, David Sawyer, who joined Markel International in 2015, will take an expanded responsibility for the combined divisions as divisional managing director of PFR and Cyber.

Chris Burgess will continue to lead the London-based cyber team, and will now report into Sawyer, with a role that will see an increased focus on developing growth potential for the business line.

Furthermore, Ed Rawe, who joined Markel in 2021, has been promoted to senior cyber underwriter. Lewis Bennett has joined as senior cyber underwriter from Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS). Dan Fox has joined as senior underwriter from Aspen Insurance Group. Lastly, Ollie Carroll has joined the team as assistant underwriter.

Andrew McMellin, managing director of wholesale at Markel International, said: “When Markel started writing cyber business almost ten years ago, clients were facing a very different, and significantly less complex risk landscape than the one they face today. Cyber risks have gained prominence and are now intertwined with other business lines, especially those that sit under our PFR division. When we were looking at how we can keep our business relevant and tailored for our clients, we saw many benefits in the merging of the two divisions.

“It will mean that our cyber underwriters will be able to align themselves more closely with our PFR teams, allowing them to plan and innovate collaboratively, and bring about a more holistic approach to our cyber offering, to the benefit of our broking partners and end clients.”

Sawyer commented: “We have highly skilled and well-respected cyber underwriters and I look forward to working with Chris and the rest of the team, as we continue to expand our combined offering for our brokers and clients.”

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