People Moves: Markel International Restructures, Promotes Hillier as CUO; Miller Taps Optio’s Robinson as CEO of MGA Platform, AXIS’ Ross Named CUO

This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Markel Insurance and the insurance broker Miller.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Markel International Restructures and Promotes Hillier as CUO

Markel Insurance, the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc., announced the appointment of Tom Hillier as chief underwriting officer (CUO), subject to regulatory approval, alongside a new structure for its international operations.

In this newly defined role, Hillier will oversee underwriting strategy and governance across Markel’s international operations, working closely with business leaders to drive profitable growth, enhance underwriting discipline, and strengthen broker and MGA partnerships.

Hillier brings more than 20 years of insurance industry experience, most recently serving as managing director – Specialty, after launching the insurer’s new Specialty practice within its International Wholesale division in 2023.

Before joining Markel in December 2023, Hillier was managing director of Specialty at Brit Insurance. Prior to that, he held roles spanning both property and casualty, with a particular focus on improving underwriting performance.

Alongside this appointment, Markel International is implementing a new structure for its international operations, reflecting the scale the business has achieved and positioning it for the next phase of growth.

Before the end of the year, Markel International will move from two divisions – Wholesale and National Markets – to five distinct businesses:

• Asia-Pacific
• Canada
• Europe
• London Market, comprising marine & energy, PFR (professional and financial risks) & cyber, and specialty
• UK

The changes are designed to simplify decision-making, sharpen customer focus, and support the insurer’s strategy to create a framework where each business can scale independently and make decisions that best suit their markets.

The newly created London Market business – including international teams located in the US – will bring together Markel International’s three product areas – marine & energy, PFR & cyber, and specialty – under one leadership team.

The company will shortly begin an open process to appoint a managing director, London Market, who will build on Markel’s market position in Lloyd’s and the London market.

All five businesses, together with the new CUO role, will report directly to Andrew McMellin, president of Markel International.

As part of these changes, the roles of Wholesale managing director and National Markets managing director will no longer exist. Henrik Bjørnstad, former National Markets managing director, will leave the business at the end of the year.

“Tom’s appointment as CUO is a key step in ensuring we have the right leadership in place to drive underwriting excellence and deepen our long-term partnerships with brokers and MGAs,” commented McMellin.

“The structural changes we’ve announced today are about setting Markel International up for long-term success. They give each of the five new businesses the clarity and focus they need to grow and deliver for our clients and brokers,” he added.

He went on to thank Bjørnstad “for his leadership and the many valuable contributions he’s made over more than a decade with Markel International.”

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Miller Taps Optio’s Robinson as CEO of MGA platform, AXIS’ Ross Named CUO

Miller, the London-based independent specialist re/insurance broker, announced the appointment of David Robinson as MGA CEO and Neil Ross as chief underwriting officer, as the business builds out its MGA offering.

Robinson was previously CEO at specialty MGA Optio Group, having initially joined as a managing director, overseeing Optio’s underwriting, claims and actuarial functions. He has also held a number of senior roles across the industry including 25 years at Chubb and ACE, latterly as regional president, UK & Ireland, with responsibility for property/casualty, accident & health, specialty personal lines, and high net worth.

Robinson will be joined by Neil Ross who brings over 20 years of experience in the underwriting market across multiple product lines, including liability lines, cyber and property, as well as a depth of experience in launching digital underwriting capabilities to help access segments of business previously out of reach to specialty insurers. Ross joins from AXIS Capital, having held a number of senior positions at the firm, most recently as head of Retail for Global Markets.

In their new roles, Robinson and Ross will drive the strategy and expansion of Miller’s MGA platform, with the aim to establish a meaningful specialty underwriting business, the company said.

“David and Neil have incredibly strong reputations in the market and their appointments mark a significant step in our ambition to build out a broader MGA offering within the Miller Group,” commented James Hands, CEO of Miller Group.

“In these new roles, David and Neil will focus on developing an underwriting-led MGA platform which builds long-term collaborative partnerships that allow us to bring specialist expertise and innovative products to the market,” he added.

Topics Insurance Wholesale