Markel has announced a series of appointments aimed at strengthening its wholesale claims services. The changes include three internal promotions and the addition of a new technical claims lead in the marine portfolio.
Dan Thomas (pictured, top left) has joined Markel as marine technical claims lead. In this role, he will work alongside the marine liability claims team and underwriters, providing feedback on policy wordings and offering claims insights for both renewal and new business.
Thomas will also engage with Markel’s actuarial and outwards reinsurance teams to ensure they remain informed on relevant claims developments. He reports to Tim Warren, claims manager – marine liability, and is based in the London office.
Thomas has more than 20 years of industry experience. He was previously head of marine claims at Helvetia Global Solutions UK and held positions at QBE European Operations/British Marine and Steamship Mutual P&I Club. His background covers a range of marine lines, including liability, protection and indemnity, hull and machinery, and war risks.
Markel bolstering its claims division follows a major development across its insurance operations, with the group also recently announcing that Simon Wilson has been appointed chief executive officer of the company’s three primary underwriting businesses – Markel Specialty, Markel International, and Markel Global Reinsurance.
Markel has also promoted Debbie Larkin (pictured, top right) to claims manager – energy, liability and terrorism, effective March 31. Larkin will oversee claims across the upstream, midstream and downstream energy lines, as well as sustainable energy, conventional power and terrorism portfolios.
She leads a team focused on the resolution of claims and operational improvements. Larkin joined Markel nearly two years ago and previously spent 15 years as a lawyer advising carriers on policy wording, coverage, and defence matters. She will report to Thomas Upton, head of claims – marine, energy and casualty.
Rachel Tighe (pictured, second to the left) has been appointed claims manager – professional indemnity (PI), with immediate effect. She will manage the PI wholesale claims team, supporting broker engagement and team development.
Tighe joined Markel over five years ago and has progressed through roles including senior claims adjuster and assistant claims manager – PI. A qualified solicitor with 14 years’ experience in professional indemnity and insurance, she previously worked as a claims solicitor at AmTrust Europe Ltd. Her responsibilities included solicitors PI, financial services PI and construction PI.
Natalie Myhill (pictured, second to the right) has been named claims manager – financial institutions (FI), where she will lead the FI wholesale claims team. Her role includes handling complex claims for FI and fintech clients, maintaining broker relationships, and supporting underwriters with claims data and insights.
Myhill joined Markel in 2020 and has since advanced from Senior Claims Adjuster to Assistant Claims Manager – FI. She previously worked at Sompo International as AV, Senior Claims Examiner, with a focus on Professional Indemnity, D&O and Financial Institutions.
Both Tighe and Myhill are based in London and report to Jonathan Pestell, head of claims – specialty. In addition to their operational responsibilities, they co-founded 'Mentoring the Market', a joint initiative between Markel and DAC Beachcroft. Now in its fifth year, the programme aims to support professional development across the insurance and legal sectors.
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