Diary of an Insurer: Markel’s Josh Brown

Monday

Since the pandemic and move to agile working, Monday mornings have a different feel. Gone is the 6.30am alarm and bleary-eyed commute to the office. Instead, I get up at 7.30am and head out for a 5km run, before having a quick shower and breakfast, so I can begin the working day.

First on the priority list is to check on my upcoming renewals. Renewal retention is one of my team’s top priorities, so I make sure that I catch-up with the brokers who are handling renewals due that week, as well as sending reminders for renewals which are due over the coming months.

Next up is a bi-weekly catch-up with my line manager and head of professional indemnity, Bhavik Desai. In this meeting we discuss what has been going on in the tech PI market, some exciting new opportunities that we have identified in the gaming industry, as well as recruitment plans for our technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) team.

I end the day by playing five-a-side football in the freezing weather. Despite a last-minute goal from the opposing team, it did not dampen my spirit after a busy and interesting start to the week.

Tuesday

In the TMT team, Tuesday is our team office day, which means this morning’s coffee will be consumed on the train.

The day kicks off with our team meeting, where we go over the written business from the week before and review our gross written premium against our plan for the year so far.

It is important to have an accurate measure of how we are performing against our budget, so that we are able to amend and adjust expectations accordingly throughout the year.

The team heads then provide updates within their respective sectors and areas. As head of technology PI, I am able to update the teams on the tech and cyber space and discuss new business prospects that we have in the pipeline. It is great to see that the wider team have lots of good risks.

Next up is lunch with two of our key brokers. It is good to catch-up on their strategy for the year ahead and provide some details on ours and the areas we are looking to grow in, in 2023. The pizza was not bad either.

The last meeting of the day is with two of our panel lawyers on the topics of gaming and gambling. We launched our gaming wording in 2022 – a product created for video game developers and gaming operators – which we are very excited about.

Wednesday

Most of my Wednesday mornings and afternoons are spent quoting a variety of renewals and new business, catching up with my team, and responding to referrals from our Australian coverholders.

I spend Wednesday evenings with my two sons; something that would have been much more difficult before the days of remote working. At 18 months and three-and-a-half-years old, respectively, they are both a joy and a challenge.

Thursday

Peer reviews are scheduled for Thursday mornings. It is great to see Markel conducting these sessions in an open and educational environment.

As underwriters, it can be quite nerve-wracking to explain your thought process in front of the whole team, especially for the more junior members. However, the senior team always provides extensive support, while making sure that any learning points or issues are raised in a professional and objective manner.

After the peer reviews, it is time to catch up with our recruitment partners on our plans for recruiting in 2023.

We are actively looking for a tech and cyber underwriter to join the TMT team, to help us to continue providing a market-leading service to our brokers, and achieve our ambitious growth targets.

I finish the working day with a call to one of our Canadian colleagues for an update on market conditions in Canada, followed by our Professional and Financial Risks team night out.

I am on the PFR events committee and cannot take all the credit for organising a fantastic evening at the Bill Murray Comedy Club, and drinks and food at The Old Queens Head in Islington. Great fun all-round.

Friday

Today I catch up with our data analytics lead, Toby Bremner, on how we can get the best out of the MI data that we are capturing. Having accurate data is essential in assisting underwriters to make more empowered decisions for brokers and their clients.

After tidying up the week’s processing and ensuring I am up to date with renewals, I head off to collect my boys and spend the weekend with them. You can be sure it will be anything but relaxing, but always lots of fun.