Markel appoints QBE’s Smith to lead marine and energy liability team, international specialty; QBE promotes Lascelles to director. of Underwriting, Marine and British Marine

This edition of International People Moves details appointments with insurers Markel and QBE.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Markel appoints Smith from QBE to lead energy and liability team, international specialty

Markelinsurance operations within the Markel Group, announced his appointment Grant Smith as Director, Marine & Energy Liability, international specialty, effective immediately.

Smith’s appointment is the latest move to enhance Markel’s international specialty underwriting capabilities and expertise, following the launch of its international specialty practice last December.

In his new role, Smith will lead the marine and energy liability team within Markel’s international wholesale business. He will be responsible for driving sustainable and profitable growth initiatives that align with Markel’s long-term strategic vision aimed at expanding market share and further strengthening Markel as a market leader in marine and energy liabilities. He will also focus on strengthening relationships with key stakeholders and developing and nurturing existing underwriting talent.

Smith will be based in London and report to Tom Hilliergeneral manager, International Specialty, at Markel.

Smith has extensive knowledge of the general liability insurance market, having spent more than 17 years of his career working in various underwriting and leadership positions in this class of business. He joins Markel from QBE, where he was most recently specialty portfolio manager, QBE European Operations (a role he held since 2014), with responsibility for managing an extensive portfolio of international maritime businesses, including liability classes , hull and protection and indemnities. Prior to joining QBE as a general and energy underwriter in 2011, Smith spent five years working in various marine and aviation underwriting roles at Travelers.

“When we established the specialist practice within our international wholesale business last year, we set ambitious goals for our marine and energy liability team, focused on delivering sustainable and profitable growth and establishing ourselves as a market leader in regarding the subscription. and services,” Hillier said.

“I am therefore delighted to welcome Grant on board to lead our marine and energy liability team. I am confident that his background and experience will position him to lead the team to meet our ambitious goals for this class of business and deliver a superior service proposition to our clients and brokers.”

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QBE promotes Lascelles as director of underwriting, Marine and British Marine

QBE called Simon Lascelles appointed Director of Underwriting, Marine and British Marine.

Lascelles was previously Portfolio Manager for Cargo, International Markets and has been with QBE for 10 years. His role will encompass both the Navy and the British Navy.

Lascelles started his new role on Monday 12 August 2024.

Prior to QBE, Lascelles worked as a commodity broker at Marsh for more than three years and also worked at broker Aon.

TOPICS
Excess liability underwriting