Markel, the insurance operation within Markel Group Inc., has appointed Sebastian Rice as a Senior Underwriter and head of Business Development for Europe.
According to the insurer, his hire is a strategic move that will accelerate growth across Markel’s trade credit portfolio, while strengthening the businesses’ leadership position within the excess of loss (XoL) trade credit market.
Rice brings to his new London-based role over two decades of experience in the trade credit industry.
He is tasked with leading the organisation’s business development activities in Europe which includes serving key relationships with global clients, as well as identifying new territories to grow the trade credit portfolio of business.
At the same time, Rice will be responsible for establishing and fostering long-term broker relationships and educating them on the benefits of taking out Markel’s trade credit insurance policies.
He will report to Phil Amlot, Senior Underwriter and head of Portfolio – Global – Trade Credit at Markel International, who commented: “We are delighted to welcome Sebastian to the Trade Credit team. His arrival illustrates Markel’s commitment to trade credit and recruiting market-leading underwriting talent, so we can continue serving brokers in an efficient and timely manner.”
He concluded: “Sebastian’s energy and feedback from brokers in our market has always been extremely positive, so I am looking forward to seeing him apply the same energy and his personal approach at Markel, which will strengthen our position as a leading XoL trade credit insurance provider.”
Rice joins Markel after having spent the past decade at QBE Europe, where he was previously head of Commercial Underwriting.
Prior to this position, he held roles with Allianz Trade and Atradius, respectively, and has acquired deep sector knowledge – both on the risk and commercial side – which according to Markel, complements its ‘dual pen’ approach to delivering high service levels for trade credit customers through best-in-class underwriting.
