Markel Executive and Leadership Team

August, 2026

Leadership Overview

Markel has 10 executives leading key functions including financial strategy, human capital management, insurance operations, and program development.

Committed to delivering specialized risk solutions, Markel maintains a global footprint while fostering long-term partnerships through tailored property and casualty insurance products for complex, hard-to-place market sectors.

Leadership Roles at Markel

  • Chief Financial Officer - Brian Costanzo
  • Executive Business Partner To the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and the President and Chief Operating Officer, Insurance Operations - Shannon Martin
  • Chief Financial Officer, Programs & Solutions - Meredith Albright
  • Executive Business Partner To President, Markel Specialty and Chief Financial Officer, Markel - Pattie Hester
  • Regional President - Susan Swanson
  • President of Personal Lines - Jeffrey May
  • President, Programs Alliances & Insurtech - Jeffery Lamb
  • Executive VP & Chief Human Resources Officer - Susan Davies
  • Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer - Pamela Perrott
  • Executive Business Partner To the Chief Human Resources Officer and the Executive Vice President, Insurance - Georgianna Engiles
  • Brian Costanzo - Chief Financial Officer

    Brian Costanzo, the Chief Financial Officer at Markel, directs the global financial strategy and capital allocation frameworks for the organization. Overseeing fiscal reporting and investment performance, the Chief Financial Officer ensures alignment with the long-term risk appetite of the company. This leadership role involves managing complex balance sheet requirements across 18 countries to support specialty insurance underwriting. By optimizing capital efficiency, Brian Costanzo directly impacts the financial stability of the firm. The Chief Financial Officer collaborates with the Board to maintain rigorous standards in financial governance and transparency. Through precise oversight of financial operations, Costanzo secures the necessary resources for the expansion of specialty insurance divisions. This executive function remains vital for sustaining the competitive market position of the company while navigating diverse regulatory environments across international jurisdictions.
    Brian Costanzo

    Shannon Martin - Executive Business Partner To the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and the President and Chief Operating Officer, Insurance Operations

    Shannon Martin, the Executive Business Partner To the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and the President and Chief Operating Officer, Insurance Operations at Markel, coordinates high-level strategic initiatives between financial and operational leadership. Overseeing cross-functional workflows, the Executive Business Partner To the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and the President and Chief Operating Officer, Insurance Operations ensures seamless communication regarding underwriting performance and capital deployment. This leadership role involves facilitating executive decision-making processes that impact the specialty insurance divisions. By streamlining administrative and strategic alignment, Shannon Martin directly impacts the efficiency of the executive office. The Executive Business Partner To the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and the President and Chief Operating Officer, Insurance Operations supports the integration of complex insurance solutions across global markets. Through meticulous coordination, Martin enables the leadership team to focus on long-term growth and risk management objectives.
    Shannon Martin

    Meredith Albright - Chief Financial Officer, Programs & Solutions

    Meredith Albright, the Chief Financial Officer, Programs & Solutions at Markel, manages the financial architecture for the programs and solutions division. Overseeing revenue recognition and cost structures for program services, the Chief Financial Officer, Programs & Solutions ensures profitability within the managing general agent and contract binding arrangements. This leadership role involves analyzing financial data to support the expansion of specialty insurance products. By optimizing the financial performance of program partnerships, Meredith Albright directly impacts the growth of the company. The Chief Financial Officer, Programs & Solutions collaborates with underwriting teams to assess the viability of new insurance programs. Through rigorous financial oversight, Albright maintains the fiscal health of the programs division. This executive function remains critical for supporting the diverse insurance needs of small businesses and specialized sectors through the company's extensive distribution network.

    Pattie Hester - Executive Business Partner To President, Markel Specialty and Chief Financial Officer, Markel

    Pattie Hester, the Executive Business Partner To President, Markel Specialty and Chief Financial Officer, Markel at Markel, manages the strategic interface between the specialty insurance division and the corporate finance office. Overseeing executive scheduling and priority alignment, the Executive Business Partner To President, Markel Specialty and Chief Financial Officer, Markel ensures that leadership focuses on core business objectives. This leadership role involves facilitating the flow of information between the specialty underwriting teams and the financial planning department. By optimizing executive time and communication, Pattie Hester directly impacts the speed of strategic decision-making. The Executive Business Partner To President, Markel Specialty and Chief Financial Officer, Markel supports the coordination of complex projects involving global insurance operations. Through proactive management of executive priorities, Hester enables the leadership team to address the unique challenges of the specialty insurance market effectively.

    Susan Swanson - Regional President

    Susan Swanson, the Regional President at Markel, directs the operational performance and market expansion within the assigned geographic territory. Overseeing regional underwriting teams and distribution partnerships, the Regional President ensures the delivery of customized property and casualty insurance solutions. This leadership role involves managing local market relationships and adapting product offerings to meet regional risk profiles. By driving growth in the assigned territory, Susan Swanson directly impacts the overall market reach of the company. The Regional President collaborates with global leadership to ensure consistency in underwriting standards and service quality. Through effective regional management, Swanson supports the company's commitment to serving unique and complex risks. This executive function remains essential for maintaining the competitive edge of the firm in diverse regional markets while upholding the global standards of the organization.

    Jeffrey May - President of Personal Lines

    Jeffrey May, the President of Personal Lines at Markel, manages the strategy and product development for the personal lines insurance portfolio. Overseeing the underwriting of specialty personal property, powersports, and event insurance, the President of Personal Lines ensures the delivery of tailored coverage for individual customers. This leadership role involves analyzing consumer risk trends to refine product offerings and pricing models. By expanding the reach of personal lines products, Jeffrey May directly impacts the diversification of the company's insurance portfolio. The President of Personal Lines collaborates with distribution partners to enhance the accessibility of specialty coverage. Through strategic product management, May supports the company's goal of providing comprehensive protection for unique personal assets. This executive function remains critical for maintaining the firm's reputation for excellence in the specialty personal insurance market.

    Jeffery Lamb - President, Programs Alliances & Insurtech

    Jeffery Lamb, the President, Programs Alliances & Insurtech at Markel, directs the development of strategic partnerships and the integration of insurtech solutions. Overseeing the expansion of program alliances, the President, Programs Alliances & Insurtech ensures the company leverages technology to improve underwriting efficiency and customer experience. This leadership role involves identifying innovative platforms that support the distribution of specialty insurance products. By fostering collaborations with insurtech providers, Jeffery Lamb directly impacts the digital transformation of the firm. The President, Programs Alliances & Insurtech collaborates with the broader leadership team to integrate new technologies into existing insurance workflows. Through strategic alliance management, Lamb drives the adoption of modern tools to address complex risk needs. This executive function remains vital for maintaining the company's position as a leader in specialty insurance innovation.
    Jeffery Lamb

    Susan Davies - Executive VP & Chief Human Resources Officer

    Susan Davies, the Executive VP & Chief Human Resources Officer at Markel, architects the global talent strategy and organizational culture initiatives. Overseeing workforce development and leadership succession, the Executive VP & Chief Human Resources Officer ensures the company attracts top-tier underwriting and actuarial talent. This leadership role involves implementing human capital programs that support the people-first philosophy across all international offices. By fostering an inclusive environment, Susan Davies directly impacts employee engagement and operational productivity. The Executive VP & Chief Human Resources Officer collaborates with senior leadership to align human capital goals with the broader business objectives of the specialty insurance divisions. Through strategic talent management, Davies drives the organizational agility required to address complex, hard-to-place risks. This executive function remains essential for maintaining the high-performance culture that defines the company in the competitive global insurance landscape.
    Susan Davies

    Pamela Perrott - Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

    Pamela Perrott, the Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Markel, drives the implementation of human resources policies and organizational development strategies. Overseeing compensation structures and performance management systems, the Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer ensures the alignment of staff capabilities with the evolving needs of the specialty insurance market. This leadership role involves managing internal communications and employee relations to support the company's people-first approach. By refining talent acquisition processes, Pamela Perrott directly impacts the retention of specialized underwriting expertise. The Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer collaborates with regional leaders to ensure consistent application of human capital standards across the global network. Through effective HR management, Perrott supports the operational stability of the firm. This executive function remains vital for maintaining the professional standards required to serve complex, hard-to-place risk markets.

    Georgianna Engiles - Executive Business Partner To the Chief Human Resources Officer and the Executive Vice President, Insurance

    Georgianna Engiles, the Executive Business Partner To the Chief Human Resources Officer and the Executive Vice President, Insurance at Markel, coordinates the strategic agenda for human resources and insurance operations. Overseeing the integration of operational goals with human capital initiatives, the Executive Business Partner To the Chief Human Resources Officer and the Executive Vice President, Insurance ensures alignment between the workforce and the underwriting divisions. This leadership role involves managing complex administrative workflows that support the executive team. By facilitating collaboration between HR and insurance leadership, Georgianna Engiles directly impacts the execution of organizational strategies. The Executive Business Partner To the Chief Human Resources Officer and the Executive Vice President, Insurance supports the development of initiatives that enhance the company's market position. Through efficient coordination, Engiles enables the leadership team to focus on delivering customized insurance solutions to clients.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Markel Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Markel?
    Markel is led by Brian Costanzo (Chief Financial Officer), along with executives such as Shannon Martin (Executive Business Partner To the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and the President and Chief Operating Officer, Insurance Operations) and Meredith Albright (Chief Financial Officer, Programs & Solutions).
    Who is part of Markel’s executive team?
    The executive team of Markel includes leaders such as Brian Costanzo (Chief Financial Officer), Shannon Martin (Executive Business Partner To the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and the President and Chief Operating Officer, Insurance Operations), Meredith Albright (Chief Financial Officer, Programs & Solutions) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Markel have?
    Markel has 10 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Markel’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Markel includes roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Executive Business Partner To the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and the President and Chief Operating Officer, Insurance Operations, Chief Financial Officer, Programs & Solutions, Executive Business Partner To President, Markel Specialty and Chief Financial Officer, Markel, Regional President.