Markel on Monday (5 August) announced several senior hires for its Asia team: Alvernia Xu has been named Head of Operations for Asia Pacific; Jenny Choi has joined as Senior Underwriter, Casualty; Anna Tan moves as Senior Underwriter, Fine Art & Specie; Olga Wong is appointed Senior Underwriter, Professional Financial Risk; and Isabelle Wong joins the business the global (re)insurer as Cargo Underwriter.
Singapore-based Xu joins Markel from Liberty Specialty Markets, where she had served as Senior Manager, Operations since 2021. In her new role, Xu will report to Christian Stobbs, Managing Director – Asia Pacific, and focus on enhancing operational infrastructure to support the business’s growth plans and improve efficiency for clients and team members in the region, Markel said in its announcement.
Choi, who joined in Hong Kong as Senior Underwriter, Casualty, moved from Swiss Re, where she was Senior Casualty Facultative Underwriter. She brings experience underwriting a wide range of casualty risks across Hong Kong and Taiwan and will play a key role in expanding the (re)insurer’s Casualty portfolio in Asia, said Markel.
Tan, appointed as Senior Underwriter for Fine Art & Specie in Hong Kong, previously worked for Hamilton Insurance Group as Senior Underwriter for Fine Art & Specie. Her experience in Greater China will help strengthen Markel’s profile as a lead market for Fine Art & Specie insurance in the region, the business said in its announcement.
Olga Wong joins Markel in Singapore as Senior Underwriter, Professional Financial Risk (PFR). Before joining Markel, Wong was a Senior Financial Lines Underwriter at AXA XL and has 20 years of experience in financial lines underwriting across Asia.
Choi, Tan, and Wong will report to Kevin Leung, Chief Underwriting Officer – Asia Pacific, at Markel.
Additionally, Isabelle Wong has been named Cargo Underwriter, responsible for developing and underwriting marine cargo business in the Asia-Pacific region. Wong joins Markel from WTW and will be based in Singapore, reporting to Wanshi Lin, Senior Marine Underwriter at Markel.
“We’re thrilled to have Alvernia Xu join our team. Her extensive experience in operations and digital distribution will be of huge benefit as we continue to expand our presence in the Asia Pacific region.” Stobbs commented. “Her strategic vision will drive our operations forward, ensuring we meet our growth and efficiency targets.”
Leung added, “I’m excited to welcome Olga Wong, Jenny Choi, Isabelle Wong, and Anna Tan to the Markel family. Their combined expertise and deep understanding of their respective fields will significantly strengthen our underwriting capabilities in Singapore and Hong Kong.”
“We’re confident that their contributions will enhance our service offerings and solidify our market position in these key regions,” Leung concluded.
