Markel appoints new underwriter

Markel International has appointed Rupert Cousins to its specialty division as an underwriter for open market property.

The appointment follows the restructuring of Markel International's property business along sector lines last year.

This resulted in the creation of an managing general agency division and the movement of open market business to the specialty division.

Cousins has over 20 years' underwriting experience in the insurance industry, beginning his career in 1988 at Lloyd's non-marine syndicate 506. He was appointed North American property underwriter in 1993 and became global property underwriter in 1998.

In 2001 Cousins joined Axis, where he was manager of the Global Property Portfolio until joining Markel at the beginning of this year.

Cousin’s role at Markel is to develop an underwriting strategy that establishes a sustainable portfolio of Global Fortune 1000 and risk-managed business, with a strong weighting towards layered and shared placements.

Robin Ungless, joint managing director of Markel International’s specialty division, said: "We are delighted that Rupert has joined Markel. As a member of the specialty team he will play a key role in building our open market business and reinforcing Markel's reputation in the property sector."