Managing Director, Casualty Claims

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This position is responsible for leading a large and complex casualty claims organization overseeing the management and resolution of all casualty claims for Markel Specialty. This role reports to the Chief Claims Officer for Markel Specialty, and is responsible for driving the strategic direction of the casualty claims department, ensuring efficient and effective claims handling, and maintaining the highest standards of customer service and business support.

Job Responsibilities

• Manage the operation of a large and complex claims organization responsible for the handling of complex and non-complex casualty claims spanning multiple product lines, coverages, industries, risk types (SME to large account)
• Provide leadership and direction to the casualty claims team, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Represent Casualty Claims both within the larger claims organization as a member of the Claims Steering Committee, and within the broader Markel Specialty organization as a partner to casualty underwriting and actuaries.
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives to optimize claims processes, improve cycle times, and deliver exceptional customer service.
• Nurture strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including underwriting, actuarial, RSS, and legal.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and regulatory challenges in casualty lines of business to proactively adapt claims practices accordingly and inform underwriting risk management strategies and product development.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the claims department, promoting innovation and data-driven decision making.
• Develop and implement talent management strategies to attract, retain and develop top tier claims professionals.
• Contribute to the overall profitability and financial performance of the company by ensuring efficient claims handling practices.
• Manage departmental budget, resources, and technology to optimize claims operations and enhance productivity.
• Monitor and analyze claims trends, loss patterns, and emerging risks to collaborate with underwriting, actuarial, legal, and other departments to align claims handling strategies with overall business objectives.
• Represent the company in industry forums, conferences, and professional associations.
• Lead and mentor claims personnel, promoting professional development and career advancement opportunities within the team.
• Participate in special projects and/or serve on corporate or claim committee(s) as requested to further strategic objectives
• Review and approve reserves and settlements within authority, as appropriate, and make recommendations concerning reserve changes to senior management
• Ensure adherence to corporate reserving practices and regulatory requirements and compliance for Casualty Claims
• Travel to other Markel offices, client & broker meetings or conferences, as required

Education

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• Law degree, advanced degree, or focused technical degree preferred

Certification

• CPCU or other industry designations preferred

Work Experience/Skill Set

• Minimum 12 years of insurance experience
• Minimum of 5+ years managing a large and/or multi-layered team
• 5+ leadership years of claims-specific leadership preferred

• Excellent understanding of casualty insurance products and a strong understanding of the specific product lines being directed
• Solid understanding of the underwriting and actuarial functions and claims role in supporting those functions
• Ability to manage large teams of seasoned managers and examiners responsible for handling a variety of claims at different levels of complexity
• High attention to detail and proven ability to manage multiple, competing priorities simultaneously
• A robust understanding of data and analytics as it pertains to underwriting support and claims operations, and a proven track record of managing using data and analytics
• Proven ability to establish a high level of credibility across functional and lines of business
• Strong decision-making skills and problem-solving techniques
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team in a fast paced, high volume, and rapidly changing environment
• Proven track record of collaboration and building and maintaining strong business relationships, including with external broker partners
• Process-oriented and able to continuously identify process improvement opportunities  
• Strong desire for continuous improvement