In this newly created role, Stobbs will be responsible for identifying and driving strategic growth initiatives across the organization’s global insurance operations.

Stobbs will report directly to Simon Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of Markel Insurance, and will initially be based in the United States.

Having joined Markel in 2015 as Strategy and Development Executive, Stobbs played a key role in building out the strategy function for Markel International. He later served as Managing Director of Abbey Tax – now Markel Tax – where he led the business to become the UK’s leading provider of tax fee protection insurance.

In 2019, Stobbs was appointed Managing Director for Asia Pacific. Under his leadership, the region experienced rapid growth and transformation as part of Markel’s Accelerate Asia Pacific strategy. Gross written premium (GWP) in the region increased by approximately 600%, underwriting profitability improved significantly, and employee headcount nearly tripled. His successor, Sucheng Chang, assumed the Asia Pacific leadership role effective July 14.

Commenting on the appointment, CEO Simon Wilson said, “I’m confident that Christian’s proven leadership successes and his more than 17 years of insurance and financial services industry experience will unlock even greater opportunities to help Markel Insurance to win.”