Markel reveals top underwriting, cat management moves in growth strategy

Markel International, a subsidiary of Markel Corporation, has promoted in-house talent with combined background at  Tokio Marine, Catlin and Travelers to top underwriting and catastrophe management posts to help identify, manage, and mitigate sources of underwriting volatility in excess of Markel’s risk appetite.

Andrew Green (Pictured Right) has been appointed head of underwriting risk, with Emma Higgins (Piictured Left) taking over from Green as head of catastrophe management. Higgins was previously catastrophe risk manager at Markel International.

Markel explained that the promotions are a part of its strategy to strengthen its underwriting and catastrophe management functions in support of its long-term and profitable growth ambitions, as well as the business’ investment in internal talent.

Working in alignment with the catastrophe management, actuarial, risk management, and underwriting teams, Green will be responsible for managing and mitigating volatility in Markel’s portfolio. He will report to Nick Line, chief underwriting officer at Markel International.

Higgins will lead the catastrophe management team focused on providing individual and portfolio risk insights across its products. She will report to Guenter Kryszon, global executive underwriting officer, property at Markel.

Green has more than 15 years of insurance experience, having joined Markel in 2014 as head of catastrophe management, where he was instrumental in expanding the team’s remit to include a diverse range of products; from cyber to terrorism. Prior to joining Markel, Green was at Tokio Marine Kiln for six years, latterly as the deputy head of exposure management. He started his career as a catastrophe modelling analyst at Catlin in 2006.

Higgins has been with Markel for over six years and started as a senior catastrophe analyst in 2016. She was promoted to catastrophe risk manager in 2019. Prior to joining Markel, she was an assistant catastrophe risk analyst at Travelers Insurance Company.

Green said: “The work the catastrophe management team produces at Markel continues to be a great source of identifying potential risk and I hope to leverage the knowledge and expertise in that team, whilst collaborating with the other functions across the business. My aim in this role is to ensure we uphold our embedded risk culture, robust controls, and strong risk framework which will not only result in good underwriting decisions but in turn, also help Markel achieve its growth ambitions.”

Higgins said: “I’m grateful for the opportunities available at Markel and the ability to progress my career in an environment that values its employees. I am looking forward to leading and supporting the brilliant work that the catastrophe management team does whilst guiding the team to ensure we are aligned with the business’ growth strategy.”

Line added: “I’d like to congratulate Andrew and Emma on their well-deserved promotions. Andrew’s new position is designed to identify, manage, and mitigate sources of underwriting volatility in excess of Markel’s risk appetite, and will be imperative to the success of the business as we grow. Both Andrew and Emma’s well-rounded experience and advancement is a testament to the opportunities available at Markel and our commitment to nurturing and retaining great talent.”

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