Markel Canada Limited has appointed Cliff Laidlaw as senior vice president of underwriting.
Laidlaw will oversee underwriting matters and portfolio management across all of Markel’s Canadian insurance products. His responsibilities include managing a team of underwriting professionals and supporting the company’s growth strategy in Canada.
Laidlaw joined the company in 2019 as product line leader of casualty, following more than a decade at several large insurers. During his time at Market, he has contributed to refining the company’s property and casualty underwriting approach, leveraging his technical expertise and ability to implement change within the underwriting team.
David Crozier, president and managing director of Markel Canada, said he is confident that Laidlaw will contribute to the company as it shifts its focus from stabilizing its underwriting book to strategically expanding its portfolio. Crozier took over the company’s leadership in 2019, upon the retirement of Karen Barkley.
“We’re entering an exciting new chapter as we shift our focus from first stabilizing our underwriting book, through radical transformation of process to enhance ease of doing business, to strategically growing our portfolio,” Crozier commented.
“With Cliff at the underwriting helm, we’re confident in our ability to expand our market presence, strengthen our broker partnerships, and drive profitable growth while maintaining our disciplined underwriting approach.”
Last year, the company launched Markel Play, which is meant to support both recreational and sports organizations as well as their participants. The product offers various products, including instructor’s errors and omissions, abuse liability, and participant accident insurance, among others.
Based in Richmond, Virginia, Markel Group is a holding company for insurance, reinsurance and investment operations. Markel Canada Limited is a division of Markel International Services Limited and the Canadian underwriting and claims operation writing business in Canada.
