Markel enhances regional Marine capabilities with appointment of Marine Risk Engineer based in Singapore

Singapore, 2 July, 2026 — Markel Insurance, the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), today announced the appointment of Sjoerd A. Blomsma as Marine Risk Engineer, with immediate effect. Based in Singapore, this newly created role marks an important step in enhancing Markel’s technical capabilities and broader specialty insurance platform across the Asia Pacific region.

Reporting to Wanshi Lin, Head of Singapore, Blomsma will work closely with Markel’s Asia Pacific marine underwriting teams to provide engineering-led insights, support risk assessment and selection across complex and evolving marine exposures.

This appointment reflects Markel’s continued investment in building differentiated capabilities in Asia Pacific and strengthens its full-spectrum marine offering across Cargo, Hull, Marine & Energy Liabilities. It also supports Markel’s expansion into Charterers Liability and the P&I space, following the acquisition of MECO last year.

Wanshi Lin, Head of Singapore, said: “Bringing Sjoerd on board as a dedicated Marine Risk Engineer in APAC represents a significant milestone for our regional marine platform. His expertise strengthens our ability to provide deeper technical insights to clients and brokers, supporting more informed underwriting decisions and reinforcing our commitment to delivering value beyond traditional insurance.”

Blomsma is qualified as both a Marine Engineer and Deck Officer, with a maritime career spanning seagoing and shore-based roles. He has served as Chief Officer on heavy-lift vessels and as a Master Mariner on worldwide ship delivery voyages across a range of vessel types.

More recently, he held senior consultancy roles with Solis Marine Consultants, including as Master Mariner Marine Consultant and Head of Marine Warranty Services, advising on complex heavy-lift and oversized cargo transportation projects. His experience also includes vessel and barge suitability surveys, as well as casualty investigations involving navigation, cargo and machinery incidents on behalf of shipowners, charterers and insurers.

In his new role, Blomsma will work with Markel’s global risk engineering teams across marine, energy and construction to develop a scalable risk assessment and reporting framework, strengthening the company’s integrated approach to risk. He will support underwriters in evaluating evolving technologies, understanding exposure and identifying loss trends, while also collaborating with claims teams on complex cases.

This appointment builds on Markel’s continued investment in specialist talent across Asia Pacific. As the business broadens its product capabilities, deepens its regional presence and strengthens its full-spectrum marine offering, roles such as this bring additional technical depth to brokers and clients and support Markel’s disciplined approach to sustainable growth.

About Markel Insurance

We are Markel Insurance, a leading global specialty insurer with a truly people-first approach. As the insurance operations within the Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), we leverage a broad array of capabilities and expertise to create intelligent solutions for the most complex specialty insurance needs. However, it is our people – and the deep, valued relationships they develop with colleagues, brokers and clients – that differentiates us worldwide.