In our latest Q&A, Markel talks to Harrison Austin, Assistant Underwriter of Financial Institutions (FI), about his career highlights and why a pro-active approach is key to surviving and thriving in underwriting 1. What attracted you to the insurance industry, Harrison? I’ve always been a conscientious, self-starter who was ready to enter work from an early age. After completing my A-levels in Business, Economics, and Finance at The Billericay School earlier this year, I knew I wanted to enter the London corporate world. And after conducting some research into this area, I was sold on the insurance sector – notably because of the way it has maintained the importance of face-to-face relationships, post-Covid. 2. Why was it important for you to secure your position at Markel? It was crucial to secure the Assistant Underwriter (AU) role so that I could start building on a successful underwriting career. The FI team at Markel have been very supportive of my professional development, evidenced by the time they are taking out to help me improve my knowledge and skills in the FI market. 3. What have been some of your key highlights since joining the business? Attending networking events to listen and learn from some of the most reputable figures in the insurance industry. I have also learned how to use our underwriting systems quite quickly, to the point where I am now training new AUs in the team. From having limited insurance knowledge when I started at Markel three months ago, I’m proud of my motivation to keep learning from others, while helping those develop who are in similar stages in their careers. 4. What challenges are you seeing in the FI market and how is the FI team overcoming them? We are currently seeing a soft market, with premiums reducing and competition on the rise. The FI team is always looking for new ways to develop the way they underwrite, which is a key topic of discussion in our team meetings. By reviewing each other’s risks, our underwriters are able to evaluate what has gone well and identify solutions to improve and innovate within the market. 5. What do Markel’s brand pillars (Collaboration, Expertise, Integrity and Ingenuity) mean to you and how do you and the FI team apply them in your business dealings? Our brand pillars focus on the importance of people and the relationships we have with the people we interact with. This is an important part of Markel, as it gives us the opportunity to engage with brokers and stakeholders so we can determine the best way to continue serving them. 6. What advice would you give to young people who are starting out in underwriting? Don’t be afraid to throw yourself in the deep end. By getting involved in industry events can open doors to new opportunities. You will also be able to learn and connect with people from diverse backgrounds, which is vital for your career progression. And finally, there is no such thing as a ‘stupid question’ so make sure you ask away!
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We're delighted to welcome Jack Eastwood to Markel, who's been appointed Senior Underwriter, Cyber. Jack will be responsible for working closely alongside the cyber leadership colleagues to develop and drive the organisation’s cyber underwriting strategy in London. On Jack's appointment, Dan Fox, Head of Cyber commented: "I'm delighted to announce Jack Eastwood who has joined our London Cyber team in a senior underwriter capacity. His deep sector knowledge and expertise complements our existing cyber underwriting capabilities and will help position us for further profitable growth, so we can continue serving clients and brokers in the most effective way possible. We look forward to seeing Jack’s contributions and efforts over the coming months." Read the full announcement to hear from Christopher Burgess, Director of Cyber, and find out more about our Cyber & Technology team: https://lnkd.in/eFmyEjcZ
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