Markel Insurance, the insurance operation within Markel Group Inc., has announced the appointments of Dean Johnson as Head of Transport & Logistics (T&L) and Rhys O’Neill as Head of Marine Liability.
These appointments follow the recent establishment of Markel International’s Marine Transportation business. It brings together leadership across Hull & Hull War, MECO, Marine and Energy Liabilities (M&E), and Transport & Logistics to provide brokers with more coordinated access to specialist underwriting expertise.
Both Johnson and O’Neill will be based in London and report to Grant Smith, who was appointed Director of Marine Transportation in July 2026.
In his new role, Johnson will focus on expanding Markel’s Transport & Logistics portfolio, overseeing robust risk assessment and pricing decisions while driving portfolio optimisation through analysis of performance, trends and emerging risks. He will provide strategic direction for the T&L underwriting team, working to identify profitable growth opportunities, increase broker engagement and ensure best-in-class underwriting standards are upheld for brokers and clients.
Johnson joined Markel in January 2025 as Senior Underwriter – Transport and Logistics, underwriting liability and property package policies for the ports, terminals and marine trades industries, as well as cargo liabilities and marine professional indemnity globally.
Prior to that, he spent 13 years at Travelers, most recently serving as Underwriter Ports & Terminals.
In his new position, O’Neill will lead the Marine Liability strategy to drive further profitable growth across the M&E portfolio, while maintaining high service levels for customers and supporting the continued professional development of the team. He will manage, assess and place complex risks with brokers, ensuring clients continue to receive bespoke insurance solutions for their evolving exposures.
O’Neill brings more than 15 years of liability underwriting experience. He joined Markel in August 2024 as a Senior Underwriter.
Previously, he served as an Underwriter – Marine Liability at QBE Insurance. Before that, he held underwriting roles at NorthStandard and Charles Taylor.
Smith said, “From rising geopolitical tensions and shifting weather patterns to emerging technological developments, the marine and energy industries are navigating a myriad of complex, interconnected risks requiring tailored solutions and specialist underwriting expertise.
“Since starting at Markel, both Dean and Rhys have demonstrated exceptional leadership across their teams, fostered strong connections in the market and negotiated large broker deals to support the expansion of our Transport & Logistics and Marine & Energy Liability portfolios. With their deep sector knowledge and technical expertise, I’m delighted to see them step up in their new roles to further strengthen our portfolios and provide brokers with even greater access to Markel’s bespoke solutions.”
O’Neill added, “The marine and energy liability market is experiencing a period of heightened geopolitical volatility where risks are becoming increasingly integrated and more complex than ever before. As head of marine liability, and together with Markel’s M&E team, I will ensure that our brokers continue to receive the high level of service that they’ve come to expect and value from Markel, while also focusing on delivering more tailored solutions to address our clients’ emerging marine and energy liability exposures.”
