Markel Insurance, the insurance arm of Markel Group, has announced the appointment of Dan McCarthy as managing director of the newly formed marine, energy and construction division of its London market business.
As decision leader, McCarthy will be responsible for developing underwriting strategy, driving disciplined portfolio performance and strengthening broker and client relationships in a highly specialized market.
He will also focus on providing agents with clearer points of contact, more consistent decision-making and stronger coordination across relevant professional lines.
The appointment is part of Markel International’s strategy to create a clearer, more scalable marine, energy and construction structure in London, making it easier for brokers to access specialist underwriting expertise and supporting sustainable growth.
The division will be made up of four specialist teams: Maritime & Transport, Cargo & Cargo Warfare, Fine Arts & Coins, Energy & Power, and Architecture & Engineering.
“In Maritime & Transport, the new structure will bring together closely related categories including Hull & Hull Wars, MECO, Maritime & Energy Liability and Transport & Logistics, helping brokers gain relevant expertise and identify opportunities across the wider maritime and transport portfolio,” Markle noted.
Overall, this new structure is designed to increase accountability, streamline transactions and enable long-term business growth.
McCarthy has nearly three decades of experience in global marine insurance, with deep underwriting technology expertise and a proven track record of delivering profitable growth across complex portfolios.
Most recently, he was Director of Maritime at Markel International, where he oversaw divisional operations in London and the United States, rebuilding key product lines and strengthening its market position.
Under McCarthy’s leadership, the division will prioritize product leadership and investments in technology, talent and partnerships to cultivate long-term value.
The business aims to deliver significant profitable growth over the next five years, driven by disciplined underwriting and a focus on complex marine, energy, power, construction and engineering risks.
Rohan Davies, Managing Director, London Markets, commented: “Dan is a highly respected leader with deep market expertise and the ability to deliver disciplined, profitable performance across complex international portfolios.
“His leadership will be critical as we integrate our marine, energy and construction capabilities into a more focused and scalable structure. This new unit enhances how we serve our brokers and clients while providing a strong foundation for our next phase of growth.”
“For brokers, this new structure means clarity, access and confidence. With unique product teams and clear leadership, we are making it easier for our partners to access the right decision makers and obtain joint solutions for complex and evolving risks.”
“I’m excited to take on this role,” McCarthy added. “Ocean & Energy has always been marked by ambition, expertise and leadership courage, and through our newly formed Construction & Engineering team we are now building on these foundations to shape the future. Our focus is on building a future-ready business, combining disciplined underwriting, innovation and empowerment teams to deliver clarity of complexity and long-term value to customers and partners.
“By establishing clear structures across marine, energy and construction, we are not only strengthening our market presence today, but also establishing an environment that allows our people to develop, lead and help shape the future of the sector. This is also important for brokers as strong teams of professionals, clear responsibilities and empowered underwriting talent are critical to delivering the service, responsiveness and technical insight our partners in the London market require.”
