Markel Group has announced the appointment of Simon Wilson, currently serving as president of Markel International, as the chief executive officer of its three primary underwriting businesses: Markel Specialty, Markel International, and Markel Global Reinsurance. These divisions will now collectively operate under the unified brand, Markel Insurance.
Wilson brings over two decades of experience in the specialty insurance sector. Since joining Markel in 2010, he has played a pivotal role in the company’s global expansion, spearheading business development initiatives that extended Markel International’s presence beyond London into key markets in Europe, Canada, and Asia. Under his leadership, these operations achieved $2.5 billion in gross written premiums in 2023.
In January 2020, Wilson was appointed managing executive of global strategy, where he supported underwriting operations across the company. His tenure as president of Markel International, which began in 2021, has been marked by significant growth, including a nearly 40% increase in gross written premiums and a more than 250% rise in net underwriting profit. Prior to joining Markel, Wilson led the Lloyd’s Asia platform in Singapore.
As part of this leadership transition, Jeremy Noble will be departing the company. CEO Tom Gayner expressed appreciation for Noble’s contributions, highlighting his efforts in enhancing Markel’s insurance operations in recent years.
Additionally, the restructuring will see the leadership teams at State National and Nephila continue to operate independently while now reporting directly to Markel Group. These businesses, alongside Markel Insurance, will maintain collaborative efforts where market opportunities align.
This strategic appointment follows strong financial performance for Markel Group, which exceeded its targets in 2024. The company reported total operating revenue of $16.62 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, an increase from $15.80 billion in the previous year. Net income also saw a substantial rise, reaching $199.32 per share compared to $146.98 per share a year earlier.
