Markel has written some business with its broker partners since the launch of its Australian operations a few weeks ago and will ramp up its activities next year, having already filled most of the local leadership positions. 

“We're looking for intermediated business…we’re here and next year we’re really coming,” Australia MD Rory Morison told insuranceNEWS.com.au. 

“What we’re looking to do is develop towards next year, get our people in place, get our products in place and get our process in place, and then go to the brokers with a very clear and concise appetite in each of the chosen products so that we're able to partner with them effectively. 

“It’s so important to get the foundations of the people and our processes right so that we can deliver the service that we think is going to make us a really good force in the long-tail market for brokers in Australia.” 

The US specialty insurer says demand for commercial insurance, particularly in casualty and financial lines, is growing here and has opened three offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne as part of its strategy for the Australian market. 

This week the insurer announced more hires, appointing Ahmed Farag as Head of Casualty while Kym Beazleigh fills the Head of Professional and Financial Risk (PFR) role and is also Head of Sydney. 

The appointments of Mr Beazleigh and Senior Underwriter Professional Indemnity Arné Booysen mark the opening of its Sydney office. Last month the business appointed Stephen Rogers as Head of Queensland, reporting to Mr Morison who is based in Melbourne. 

“We’ve deliberately opened three offices, and we’ve done that to get our underwriters as close to the brokers as possible,” Mr Morison said. 

He says Markel is writing a small amount of business this quarter. “We’re doing some policies with brokers but in a very low key, gentle [way], checking that our systems work because for us Australia is a new territory”. 

“It’s a very considered, deliberate, thoughtful rollout so that we can build momentum really into 2024,” Mr Morison said. 

He says “lots of brokers want to deal with us and that's been a really positive response”. 

“What we’re hearing consistently is that the brokers are excited to have another option, and what we’re at great pains to explain and make abundantly clear is this is a very serious play for Markel.”