RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- F. Michael Crowley, President and Co-Chief Operating Officer of Markel Corporation (NYSE: MKL), has announced that John Latham is stepping down as President of Markel Wholesale effective December 31, 2013 and will be succeeded by Bryan Sanders. Sanders, who currently serves as Executive Vice President of Markel's Wholesale division, joined Markel with the acquisition of Alterra Capital Holdings Limited. Latham will transition to a consultative role, active with Markel, working out of Markel's Plano, TX, regional office. This transition marks the next step in a long and distinguished career in insurance. Sanders will remain based in Markel's home office in Richmond, VA, and report to Crowley.
Bryan Sanders has 32 years of insurance industry experience and has held leadership positions with Alterra Specialty, Max Specialty, Hilb Rogal and Hobbs (HRH) Company, and MacDuff Underwriters, Inc. He graduated from Kent State University and began his career with Aetna Casualty and Surety Company as an underwriter in 1981. Sanders holds both CIC and ARM designations.
John Latham has had two tours with Markel, from 1989 until 1991 and from 2002 until the present. Latham is well known in the excess and surplus lines community, having held executive posts at Gen Re and Colony Insurance Group and as past president of one of the industry's premier trade organizations, NAPSLO (National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices). Latham has been instrumental in the reorganization and expansion of Markel's excess and surplus lines business.
"All of us at Markel congratulate John Latham on his long and distinguished career. We appreciate John's many contributions to Markel's success and look forward to working with him on a variety of high-impact projects," commented Mike Crowley. "Bryan Sanders brings energy, experience, and vision to this leadership position. Bryan's integrity and track record of success reflect the Markel Style, and he and John have done an extraordinary job integrating the Alterra staff and products into the Markel Wholesale operation. Bryan's appointment should reassure our production partners and policyholders, and confirms Markel's long-standing commitment to the excess and surplus lines business," he added.
About Markel Corporation
Markel Corporation is a diverse financial holding company serving a variety of niche markets. The Company's principal business markets and underwrites specialty insurance products. In each of the Company's businesses, it seeks to provide quality products and excellent customer service so that it can be a market leader. The financial goals of the Company are to earn consistent underwriting and operating profits and superior investment returns to build shareholder value. Visit Markel Corporation on the web at markelcorp.com.
SOURCE Markel Corporation
Evans Nash, 804-273-1491, ENash@markelcorp.com
