Specialist insurer Markel International has launched a surety offering focusing on the UK, Ireland and Europe.

The move comes following the appointment of Damian Manning, who will head up the new team, and David Chandler as senior underwriter.

Manning has over 19 years of experience in the credit and surety business, having started his career as a broker at Aon trade credit and moving to Aon surety and guarantee in 2002. For the last six years, he has worked as London markets surety manager for Aviva and prior to that as surety manager for the UK and Ireland at Coface.

Chandler joined the industry as claims handler with Euler Hermes in 2006, moving to Coface as credit risk underwriter in 2007. There, he joined the surety operation in 2010 and most recently worked as risk director for Euler Hermes UK.

Commenting on the new surety line, Markel’s managing director of trade credit, political risk and surety Ewa Rose says: “The launch is in response to high broker and client demand and we look forward to providing much needed capacity to the market. It also increases our ability to design new and exciting products by combining the skillsets and experience across our underwriting team.”