Markel Canada promotes Laidlaw to SVP of underwriting

By Isha Marathe

Feb 5 - (The Insurer) - Markel Canada has appointed Cliff Laidlaw, currently vice president and product line leader in its P&C market, as senior vice president of underwriting.

Laidlaw, who joined Markel Canada in 2019, has over 15 years of experience in the industry. He held several roles duri eight-year tenure at Everest Canada. At Markel, Laidlaw helped shape P&C appetite through his technical underwriting skills and change management for the underwriting team.

In his new role, Laidlaw will oversee underwriting matters and portfolio management across all of Markel’s Canadian insurance products, while managing a team of professional underwriting experts.

“We’re entering an exciting new chapter as we shift our focus from first stabilising our underwriting book, through radical transformations of process to enhance ease of doing business, to strategically growing our portfolio,” says David Crozier, president and Managing Director, Markel Canada.

“With [Laidlaw] 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."