Markel appoints MD of A&H contingency business

Specialist insurer Markel has appointed James Leach as managing director (MD) of its newly consolidated accident & health (A&H) and contingency business.

The business is part of Markel’s specialty and financial lines division.

The new business combines Markel’s existing business in accident and health, focused on high risk sports, schemes, affinity groups, group personal accident and business travel, with its contingency non-appearance and cancellation business.

James Hasting, MD of the specialty and financial lines division, said: “It makes a lot of sense to bring these two businesses together and James is now focused on developing a growth and resourcing strategy for their development. They are markets where we have always been strong and we expect to build successfully on that.”

Leach added: “I have just got back from the North American Contingency Association meeting in the Bahamas and it’s been exciting and rewarding to tell brokers about our plans. They have been well received and I’m looking forward to the challenge of working on this book in the future.”