The Sr. Director sets underwriting direction, manages profitability and growth, and provides leadership and development to underwriting teams. This position works closely with senior leadership and cross functional partners to ensure disciplined underwriting, strong broker relationships, and execution aligned with Markel’s risk appetite.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Own the underwriting strategy and financial performance of the D&O / FI portfolio, including growth, profitability, retention, and rate adequacy.
- Monitor portfolio metrics such as loss ratio, aggregate exposure, and pricing, and adjust strategy as needed.
- Stay current on economic, regulatory, and legal trends impacting D&O and Financial Institutions risks.
- Underwrite complex and high‑severity D&O and FI risks, including large and sophisticated organizations.
- Review and structure coverage, pricing, and terms consistent with Markel underwriting standards and authority.
- Lead high‑level negotiations with brokers on program structure and terms.
- Provide leadership, coaching, and development to underwriting staff and direct reports.
- Participate in underwriting authority oversight, ensuring appropriate delegation and strong underwriting discipline.
- Ensure underwriting quality, documentation, and audit standards are consistently met.
- Partner closely with Claims, Operations, Legal, and Marketing to ensure alignment and service excellence.
- Represent Markel in key broker and client meetings, and at industry events as appropriate.
- Support product enhancements and new product development within the D&O / FI space.
Qualifications, Education & Experience:
- 10-15 years of professional liability underwriting experience, with deep expertise in D&O and Financial Institutions.
- Proven experience leading complex portfolios and senior broker relationships.
- Demonstrated people leadership skills, including coaching and talent development.
- Strong knowledge of policy forms, endorsements, and professional liability coverage structures.
- Solid understanding of financial statements and financial risk analysis.
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced education or professional designations preferred.
- Strong communication, judgment, and decision‑making skills.
Skills Required
- 10-15 years of professional liability underwriting experience
- Proven experience leading complex portfolios and senior broker relationships
- Demonstrated people leadership skills, including coaching and talent development
- Strong knowledge of policy forms, endorsements, and professional liability coverage
- Solid understanding of financial statements and financial risk analysis
- Bachelor's degree
- Advanced education or professional designations
- Strong communication, judgment, and decision-making skills
What We Do
At Markel, we believe in hard work, a zealous pursuit of excellence, and fairness in all our dealings. Markel Corporation (NYSE: MKL) is a global Fortune 500 company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. We seek to be a leader in each of our pursuits, with insurance being our primary business. As a market leader for specialty insurance, reinsurance, and investment operations around the world, Markel embodies integrity, commitment, teamwork, and innovation in every day operations. We are encouraged to look for a better way to do things. Since our founding in 1930, we have sought to know our customers’ needs and to provide quality products and service. Markel specializes in providing coverage for hard-to-place risks for a variety of niche markets including: • Agricultural and equine risks • Reinsurance for large risk enterprises such as oil rigs • Event cancellation insurance for weddings, concerts, and sporting events • Inland marine coverage for fine art collections • Environmental pollution • Yachts, ATVs, and motorcycles At Markel we provide an atmosphere in which people can reach their personal potential. We are results-oriented, and we continually strive for a better way to do things. The Markel approach is one of spontaneity and flexibility. Markel helps employees balance work and social activities. Markel gives you the keys to success! Keeping an open mind and learning new skills allows our associates to stay ahead of the marketplace. Above all, we enjoy what we are doing. There is excitement here that comes from innovating, creating, striving for a better way, sharing success with others…winning. That is the Markel Style.
