In a new appointment, Stuart Willoughby will join Markel International as Claims Director in February 2004, with responsibility for managing the company's claims operations across all its business lines.  Stuart will join Markel from St Paul Syndicate Management Company where he is the Director of Claims Operations.

Stuart's appointment leads the firm's initiative to further develop a co-ordinated approach to claims handling, build upon and enhance existing claims management capabilities, and provide improved services to clients and brokers.

William Stovin, director of underwriting and special projects at Markel International said: “As one of the leading claims specialists in London Stuart has an important role to play in optimising the performance of our claims operations and we are looking forward to having him on board.”

Stuart has worked in the insurance industry for over twenty-five years and is a member of the LMA sponsored Lloyd’s Market Claims Group.  Prior to joining St Paul, Stuart headed up claims for Unionamerica where he was a member of the Company’s Executive Management Board and represented the company on the IUA Non Marine Claims Group as well as being a founder member of the Company Market Co-ordination Group.