Andy Partington, Manager of the Birmingham branch of Markel (UK) Limited, has been appointed as the President of the Birmingham Insurance Institute for 2004/2005. He will take up the position following the Institute's Annual General Meeting on April 26, 2004.

Partington, a Chartered Insurer, said: "The Birmingham Insurance Institute with nearly 3,000 members, is the largest outside London and is an integral part of the city's economic infrastructure. We are committed to providing our membership with the highest level of educational and training support both to facilitate their continuing professional development and in readiness for FSA regulation in January 2005.

"We also want to help employers nurture and develop the considerable pool of young talent within the Birmingham market to ensure that our members can continue to provide the best possible service to their corporate and private customers.

"Throughout the Birmingham insurance community, we have outstanding quality amongst a wide range of disciplines and I want more people in the region to appreciate what we can do for them.

"I am also keen to continue with our local charity work and, this year, we shall be aiming to raise £10,000 for the Heart Unit of the Birmingham Children's Hospital".

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Andy Partington, Markel (UK) Limited. Switchboard: 0121 236 4787

Mobile: 0771 445 8602

Derah McCall, Markel International, Switchboard: 020 7953 6000

Mobile: 07958 783 258

Notes to Editors

1. Markel (UK) Limited provides professional, management risks, and commercial property risks insurance cover through Markel International Insurance Company or through Markel Syndicate 3000 at Lloyd's of London.

2. Markel (UK) Limited opened its offices in Church Street, Birmingham, in 1999 and will be moving to enlarged premises later in the year .The office services over 70 brokers throughout the Midlands, East Anglia, South Wales and the West Country.

3. Andy Partington, 47, is married with two children. He has worked in Birmingham since 1994 and opened Markel's Birmingham office. Born in Manchester, he remains a staunch Manchester City supporter and still plays football regularly. He is a School Governor and PTA Chairman for Queen's Croft community school in Lichfield.