Markel Insurance, the insurance division of Markel Group Inc., has announced a significant reorganization of its U.S. and Bermuda operations, accompanied by several key leadership appointments. The changes, effective immediately, follow the recent promotion of Simon Wilson to Chief Executive Officer.
According to the company, this restructuring is part of a broader long-term strategy designed to streamline operations and empower regional teams with greater decision-making authority, thereby supporting continued growth.
Under the new structure, the former Markel Specialty brand has been reconfigured into two distinct divisions:
- U.S. Wholesale and Specialty: This division will manage all U.S. specialty insurance distributed through Markel’s wholesale and retail channels. Wendy Houser has been appointed President of the division. A 16-year veteran of Markel, Houser most recently served as Chief Wholesale Officer and is a board member of the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association.
- Programs and Solutions: Led by Alex Martin, this division will encompass a wide array of business lines, including personal lines, Bermuda operations, surety, workers’ compensation, small commercial packages, program and alliance offerings, and Insurtech. Martin brings 19 years of experience with Markel, having served in leadership roles across operations, underwriting, business development, strategy, and finance.
Alongside the divisional realignment, Markel has made a number of leadership changes:
- Andrew McMellin has been appointed President of International, succeeding Wilson. Since joining Markel in 2022, McMellin led the International Wholesale division. His previous roles include senior positions at Pioneer Underwriters and XL Catlin, where he managed global specialty portfolios.
- Glenn Harris has been named Chief Commercial Officer. In this newly defined role, Harris will oversee key trading relationships and strategic partnerships. With 15 years at Markel, he most recently served as Managing Executive of Global Distribution Strategies and Business Development.
- Henry Gardener steps into the role of Chief Risk Officer, responsible for overseeing the company’s risk management framework. Gardener, with 11 years at Markel, previously held the position of Senior Managing Director of Legal and Chief Risk Officer for International operations.
Markel emphasized that the changes are intended to better align leadership with operational objectives and sharpen the company’s strategic focus across its business units.
