Markel Consolidates Marine Portfolio Under Grant Smith

Based in London, Smith will report to Dan McCarthy, the Managing Director for Marine, Energy & Construction. The reorganization aims to streamline access to underwriting expertise for brokers and clients, providing a more coordinated response to complex, evolving exposures. Smith will oversee strategy across multiple geographies and classes, focusing on strengthening underwriting discipline and refining risk selection in collaboration with the firm’s Claims and Actuarial teams.

Smith joined Markel in 2024 as Director of Marine & Energy Liabilities, later expanding his remit to include Transport & Logistics in 2025. With over 17 years of experience in marine specialty lines, he steps into this role as the industry grapples with heightened threats, ranging from supply chain instability to rising port theft. McCarthy noted that the consolidation is specifically designed to navigate this volatile environment by leveraging deeper internal insights and delivering more tailored solutions to trading partners.