Markel Insurance, the insurance operation within Markel Group Inc., has announced the launch of its Chemical, Oil & Gas-related Energy Property (CORE) offering, and the appointment of Candice Walker to Head of First-Party Energy and Michael McClain as Senior Underwriter – Energy.
The launch strengthens Markel’s US First-Party Energy proposition by offering a dedicated property solution for small to midsize US-domiciled businesses across the chemical, oil, gas and broader energy sectors, including industrial organic chemicals, petrochemicals, natural gas transmission and storage, terminals, gas processing, and midstream and downstream operations.
Tailored for onshore energy and energy-adjacent engineered risks, the new offering provides tailored cover for property damage, business interruption and, on selected risks, equipment breakdown.
It also protects against natural catastrophes, like flood, windstorm, and earthquake, with limits up to US$50 million on both a primary and excess-of-loss basis.
Walker will leverage her two decades of property insurance experience to lead the development of the new offering, working closely with Markel International’s existing Midstream and Downstream underwriting teams to deliver a dedicated solution for US-domiciled risks.
Her team will assess, price and underwrite a broad range of businesses, from smaller operations to complex US onshore businesses, while maintaining strong underwriting discipline and service levels.
Walker has been with Markel since 2015, having joined the organisation’s US Environmental & Casualty team as a Senior Underwriter before progressing to Director, Property & Marine and later, Senior Director, First Party – West Region.
During that time, she collaborated with underwriting teams and product leaders to develop tailored insurance solutions and execute technical underwriting strategies for clients across the United States.
Walker commented: “Energy businesses are navigating a complex risk landscape, driven by increasing natural catastrophe events, operational disruptions and a challenging economic environment.
“Our new product offering provides US-based brokers and clients with a tailored solution, designed around their evolving risk exposures, while offering greater access to Markel’s specialist underwriting, claims and engineering expertise through a long-term, committed partner.”
McClain will be reporting to Walker as Senior Underwriter – Energy. Based in Texas, the executive will be responsible for supporting the continued development and evolution of the CORE offering.
He will also guide the direction of Markel’s Midstream and Downstream US portfolios, helping to strengthen broker and client relationships within the businesses’ First-Party Energy portfolio.
Previously, McClain was Manager of Technical Operations at Tomorrow RNG, a subsidiary gas group of Enbridge Inc. Earlier, he held senior roles at Aethon Energy, LLC, managing multimillion-dollar oil and gas infrastructure projects and asset development in East Texas.
On McClain’s appointment, Walker said: “We’re delighted to welcome Michael to our First-Party Energy team here in the US. With his impressive engineering background, operations experience and strong track record in managing multimillion energy infrastructure projects, he’ll bring valuable technical insight to our underwriting.”
She added: “I look forward to working closely with Michael so that we can continue providing an unrivalled service for our brokers, clients and trading partners, while we position ourselves for long-term profitable growth.”
