Our team is led by Julian Bowen-Rees based in Richmond, Virginia, and consists of five associates based in Lexington, Kentucky, six associates based in Geneva, Illinois, and six associates based in London, England. Formed in October 2008, our team brings a combined experience of over 200 years in equine & livestock insurance to Markel.
 |
Julian Bowen-Rees, Managing Director - Equine & Livestock (Richmond, Virginia)
Julian hails from the north of England where he grew up around horses; his passion was stimulated from a very early age accompanying his father to the races whenever he had a runner. This early interest led to a 25-year career in the specialist area of insuring horses. After initially starting in the Lloyd's of London insurance market as a broker, Julian switched to the underwriting side to work for a company, who at the time was the largest insurer of horses in the world. After going back to Lloyd's in 1990 as the Deputy Underwriter on a small specialist syndicate, he then joined a large multi-national insurance company to set up an equine division. Over a 15 year period, he built the account into one of the largest insurers of thoroughbred horses in the world, insuring some of the world's most valuable bloodstock, and responsible for teams of underwriters in three different countries (United Kingdom, USA and Spain). The account was additionally expanded to include the specialized areas of livestock, exotic animals (pandas, killer whales, alpacas, etc), and commercial fish farms. Julian has owned shares in horses that have raced in the United Kingdom, the United States (Breeder's Cup Classic), Dubai (Dubai World Cup), Ireland, Japan and South Africa. Julian is based at Markel's head office in Richmond, Virginia.
Click here to email Julian. |
|
|
Robert Wells, Underwriter-Livestock (London, England)
Robert started his career in the London insurance market in 1996 at QBE. He moved to an Underwriting Agency of QBE specializing in livestock in 1997 and in 1999 was appointed as Deputy Underwriter of the agency. In 2002, he joined XL Insurance as Livestock Underwriter, broadening the account to include Aquaculture risks, and was promoted to Class Underwriter in 2005. Robert has traveled worldwide researching livestock and aquaculture markets in Europe, Australia, South America and Canada as well as all corners of the USA. Robert brought his extensive knowledge to the Markel team in 2009 and will be developing the global livestock and aquaculture account, operating from the London, UK and Geneva, IL, USA offices.
Click here to email Robert. |
|
|
Terri Sible, Underwriter (Geneva, Illinois)
Terri Sible joined the Markel team in 2010 as an underwriter with a focus on exotics and livestock. Terri came to Markel with 14 years of experience as an office manager and livestock/exotic animal underwriter. Her underwriting experience runs from cattle and equine to whales and dolphins. It is always a challenge to review these interesting risks and Terri is looking forward to working with the Markel team to expand this area. She holds a CISR designation and will continue to pursue her CPCU designation. While livestock mortality insurance is very specialized, Terri feels expanding her general insurance knowledge is important.
Click here to email Terri.
|
|
Stuart Wilson, Underwriting Manager (Geneva, Illinois)
Stuart joined the Markel underwriting team as part of its acquisition of American Live Stock, Geneva, IL in 2010. Stuart grew up on a grain and livestock farm in Central Illinois and has a strong background in the livestock industry. He obtained his Animal Science degree from Western Illinois University where he was a member of the highly successful livestock judging team. Graduate work followed at the University of Missouri. Prior to joining American Live Stock as the manager of the cattle division in 2006, Stuart had been associated with ALS and the affiliated firm of Harding & Harding for over 25 years as a producer of insurance coverages. In addition to his many years of sale management and cattle consultant work, Stuart is the former publisher of The Shorthorn World beef cattle magazine. Stuart, his wife, Ann, and their daughter, Robyn, own a small purebred cattle herd.
Click here to email Stuart.
|
|
|
George Haak, Underwriter (Geneva, Illinois)
George joined the Markel underwriting team as part of its acquisition of American Live Stock, Geneva, IL in 2010. His pedigree would seem to suggest that he was destined to become a livestock underwriter, with both of his parents having worked in the livestock insurance industry at the legendary Chicago Stockyards. George began his livestock underwriting career with Hartford Livestock out of their Chicago headquarters, gaining risk experience in the equine, cattle and canine industries. After more than 18 years, and as a Senior Underwriter, George was invited to join American Live Stock in 1995, where he has continued underwriting livestock risks; with an emphasis on the cattle and canine mortality markets. Despite nearly three and a half decades of animal mortality underwriting experience to his credit, and tens of thousands of risks under his belt, George says that because of the industry's specialized nature, hardly a week goes by that he isn't faced with something new, unique and challenging; and he's proud to be a part of Markel's distinguished team of professionals.
Click here to email George.
|
 |
Robert Govea, Claims Manager (Geneva, Illinois)
Bob joined the Markel team as part of its acquisition of American Live Stock, Geneva, IL in 2010. Bob has over 30 years of experience handling Equine and Cattle Mortality Claims on a national as well as international level. Various livestock species include: sheep, goats, alpacas, birds, dolphin, and canine, as well as a diverse group of wildlife and zoo and aquatic animals. Since 1991, Bob's responsibilities extended to include managing Farmowners Property and Casualty, personal and commercial lines claims. Over the years, he has had the privilege to have been employed with several leading Underwriting Companies throughout the country, including Crum & Forster, Hartford Insurance Group, Great American Insurance Company, American Live Stock Insurance Company, and now Markel Insurance Company.
Click here to email Bob.
|
|
|
Heidi Philyaw, Operations Manager (Lexington, Kentucky)
Heidi hails from a small town in central New York, an hour from Saratoga. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology (the study of human movement) and quickly found her skill set was ideally suited to the administrative/office environment. She relocated to Lexington and joined the equine & livestock insurance industry in July 2006. Heidi's organizational and technical skills have driven her to develop more efficient and user-friendly processes for animal owners and insurance agents to apply for and receive animal mortality insurance. She ensures that we meet high service standards, including offering the most up-to-date and convenient policy service that technology allows, while maintaining quality and accuracy. Heidi will lead the Underwriting Support team for Markel / American Live Stock.
Click here to email Heidi.
|
 |
Cindy Linman, Underwriting Assistant (Geneva, Illinois)
Cindy joined the Markel team as part of its acquisition of American Live Stock, Geneva, IL in 2010.
Cindy had been with American Live Stock since 2004, working as an assistant for cattle, equine, claims and compliance. She had also handled the monthly renewal process during her time with the company. Previously, Cindy spent 15 years in the publishing industry in various positions in departments from Customer Service to Finance. Cindy enjoys reading, cross-stitching and spending time with her adorable pet dachshund.
Click here to email Cindy.
|
|
|
Julie Huggins, Underwriting Assistant (Geneva, Illinois)
Julie joined the Markel team as part of its acquisition of American Live Stock, Geneva, IL in 2010. Julie had been with American Live Stock since October 2006 working in various supportive roles such as policy and renewal processing for cattle and equine, month end reporting, and general office support. Prior to working at American Live Stock, Julie was a stay at home mom, raising 3 busy boys, and working part time from her in-home salon. Spare time is enjoyed by bicycling, entertaining, and cooking for family and friends.
Click here to email Julie.
|
To read about our associates specializing in equine risks, please click here.