Markel names Grant Smith as Head of Marine & Energy Liability for International Specialty

Markel Group has announced that Grant Smith has been appointed as Director of Marine & Energy Liability for International Specialty, effective immediately.

This appointment is part of Markel’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its international specialty underwriting capabilities and expertise, following the establishment of its International Specialty practice last December.

In his new position, Smith will head the Marine & Energy Liability team within Markel’s International Wholesale division.

His role will involve steering growth efforts that align with Markel’s strategic goals, focusing on expanding market presence and reinforcing the company’s leadership in Marine and Energy liabilities.

He will also be responsible for strengthening relationships with key stakeholders and mentoring current underwriting talent. Based in London, Smith will report to Tom Hillier, Managing Director of International Specialty.

Hillier commented: “Clients currently face a challenging environment, because of economic inflation and changes to regulatory and legal frameworks, combined with emerging technological and climate-related liability risks, making it increasingly important to ensure they have insurance cover that meets their evolving needs.

“When we established the Specialty practice within our International Wholesale business last year, we set out ambitious goals for our Marine & Energy Liability team, centred on the delivery of sustainable, profitable growth and establishing ourselves as a leader in the market in terms of underwriting and service.”

Hillier continued: “I’m therefore delighted to welcome Grant on board to lead our Marine & Energy liability team. I’m confident his background and experience will position him to lead the team to deliver on our ambitious goals for this class of business and provide a superior service proposition to our clients and brokers.”

Smith brings over 17 years of experience in the liability insurance market, having held numerous underwriting and leadership roles in this field.

Before joining Markel, he was the Portfolio Manager for Specialty at QBE European Operations, a position he held since 2014, where he managed a broad portfolio of international marine business, including liability, hull, and P&I classes.

Prior to his tenure at QBE, Smith worked at Travelers for five years in various underwriting positions across marine and aviation sectors.

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