Diary of an Insurer: Markel’s Dan Martin

Monday

My week kicks off early, as it often does, with a brisk walk – dog in tow. The mornings are getting colder and darker by the day, but I’m an early bird no matter the time of year. By 7am, I’m at my desk with my first double espresso of the day, preparing for the day ahead.

Mondays are all about setting the tone: our distribution team gathers for a weekly meeting, connecting colleagues from London; Singapore; Richmond, Virginia and Australia. We kick things off with a debrief on the previous week, share updates from across the business and walk through our top priorities. It’s a lively session, and we share perspectives from different markets.

After a few one-on-one catch-ups and setting the wheels in motion for some of this morning’s actions, it’s time for lunch, so I grab a quick tray of sushi before heading into focused meetings with underwriters on specific broker accounts at a line-of-business level. 

These meetings are an opportunity to look at how our partners are doing, how we’re doing, unwind any issues and ensure everyone’s pulling in the same direction.

Before the end of the day, I pop outside the office with one of the colleagues I’m mentoring for a quick coffee in Leadenhall Market. 

It’s a chance for some fresh air and a change of scene – the check-ins allow us to explore aspirations and tackle challenges together. 

Hearing about the experiences of colleagues at every level, and the challenges they face, helps keep me grounded and ensures I can be an effective advocate and ally, helping to shape a more inclusive culture.

Tuesday

I start my day as my Australia-based colleagues begin to wind theirs down. I’m catching up with Scott Luxford, head of distribution and MGA strategy and our newest team member, who’s dialling in from Sydney. 

He’s really hit the ground running and has some exciting plans to strengthen our distribution strategy and deepen our MGA and broker relationships.

After a quick double espresso, I head over to Leadenhall for a breakfast meeting with a broker team to review recent activity, discuss market trends and identify opportunities to improve our service. Data is also on the agenda, and we focus on keeping our approach closely aligned with brokers as both sides develop and invest in our operations.

Once I’m back in the office, I’m reviewing our SPS P&L broad contracts, which demand a sharp focus. These contracts are structured to cover a wide range of scenarios, so it’s essential that we’re able to quickly interpret and act on the data at hand.

I finish up my day in the gym before heading home for a family dinner and a few episodes of The Bear. 

Wednesday

Wednesdays are for leadership. At 9am, I join the London Market leadership team for our standing meeting. We discuss strategy, review progress on key projects and share insights from across the business. 

There’s been some exciting shifts at Markel of recent, and these meetings are a vital touch point as we fulfil our strategic vision of putting Markel on the map by increasing relevance across products, clients and broker relationships.

Midweek is also when I carve out time for personal development. I’m delighted to have recently become Markel’s diversity and inclusion executive sponsor, so I want to spend some time dedicated to listening, expanding my perspective and understanding different lived experiences, so I can continue to rise to the role. 

Thursday

Thursday is a whirlwind of activity, as Thursdays in the City often are. I’m in the office early, prepping for a formal quarterly meeting with senior leaders from a major broker. 

These sessions are governed and structured, and they’re crucial for reviewing performance under contract and setting expectations for the months ahead.

In the afternoon, I have the pleasure of bringing together colleagues from different regions who are both looking to innovate and expand their book. Having identified the potential for collaboration, this meeting sparked some great ideas for new products and growth across markets.

As the day winds down, I meet with an MGA to explore potential partnerships and distribution opportunities. The market is always evolving, and these conversations keep us agile and ready to adapt to new opportunities as they arise. 

Whether it’s a prospective new partnership or a discussion about expanding our reach, I find these meetings energising and essential for keeping our business moving forward.

Friday

I’m working from home today, so I start the day at the CrossFit gym, which I use as an hour to clear my head and recharge.

Back at my desk by 8.30am, I set aside time for reflection, which involves reviewing notes from the week, sweeping up actions and prepping for Monday.

I carve out an hour for strategic thinking. No calls, no emails, just space to consider where we are as a team, as a business and as a market. It feels selfish but it’s necessary. It helps me set priorities for the week ahead and help my team with a long-term lens.

The afternoon is reserved for project work. Right now, we’re deep into building broker plans for 2026, working with underwriters, the international portfolio analytics team and marketing to develop and communicate our differentiated proposition. 

It’s a big process, and I spend time reviewing drafts, offering feedback and ensuring we’re positioning ourselves effectively in the market.

After wrapping up my working week, I spend a few hours in the kitchen, music on, cooking something ambitious. It’s the perfect way to unwind and recharge before I spend the weekend with family and heading from one sporting commitment to the next with my kids.