Markel International has appointed Andrew Maher as senior underwriter, emerging risks, within its specialty and financial lines division. He will be in charge of developing and expanding the department’s cyber offering for US-based risks from London.

Reporting to head of emerging risks Scott Bailey, Maher will underwrite emerging risk across multiple business sizes, industries and territories, but predominantly US cyber and technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) risks, including Lloyd’s and service company accounts.

He joins from Beazley, where he was underwriter on the technology and media team, focusing on cyber risk.

The hire marks Markel’s intention to widen its geographic scope by adding US-domiciled risks to its London portfolio, complementing the business already written domestically in the US.

Bailey explains: “The development of our emerging risk business for US risks is a natural extension of our international offering and gives us a unique advantage in the ever-toughening global privacy legal landscape, especially given the looming EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR). In addition to the experience we already have in the international market, our expansion into the US will increase our contact with a broader range of brokers across the London market. Working with our colleagues in the US, we will now be able to accommodate US business placed both domestically and in London. We’re very happy to have Andrew join our team, and his significant cyber experience will further complement our broker offering.”