Head of Data - MI, Governance and Oversight

Head of Data, MI, Governance & Oversight
Flexible UK Location | Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham or London
Hybrid Working (3 Days Per Week in Office)
Permanent | Leadership Role

Shape the Future of Data-Led Decision Making at Markel UK !

This is a rare opportunity to build and lead a newly created function at the heart of Markel UK's transformation journey.

We're looking for an exceptional leader to head up our Data, MI, Governance & Oversight team; a role with real influence, visibility and impact across the business. Reporting directly to the COO and working closely with the UK Executive Team, you'll bring together data, analytics, governance and customer outcome oversight to help shape strategic decision-making and drive sustainable business growth.

This is not a hands-on technical data role. Instead, we're looking for a commercially minded leader who can connect people, insight and strategy. Someone who can translate complex information into meaningful business stories, influence senior stakeholders and create a clear vision for how data and governance support the future success of the business.

The Opportunity:

 

As Head of Data, MI, Governance & Oversight, you will lead an integrated function responsible for:

 

• Data strategy and governance
• Management information and reporting
• Business performance analytics
• Customer outcome monitoring
• Conduct risk oversight
• Governance frameworks and executive reporting

 

You'll work across the UK business while partnering with international colleagues to ensure we leverage enterprise capabilities, data platforms and governance frameworks already established across the wider Markel Group.

 

The role is central to helping Markel UK become a more insight-led organisation by transforming data into meaningful actions, improving governance effectiveness and creating stronger connections between operational performance, customer outcomes and strategic decision-making.

 

What You'll Be Doing:

 

Lead the UK Data & MI Strategy

• Define and deliver a clear vision for data, MI and analytics across the UK business.
• Create a single, trusted view of business performance for senior leaders.
• Improve reporting capabilities and executive decision-making through meaningful insight.
• Drive adoption of Group data standards, tools and reporting frameworks.

 

Drive Insight Across the Business

You'll help the business understand performance through three critical lenses:

 

Financial Performance

• Gross Written Premium (GWP)
• Net Written Premium (NWP)
• Revenue and profitability
• Commission performance
• Forecast versus actual performance

 

Portfolio & Technical Performance

• Loss ratios
• Portfolio health
• Risk quality indicators
• Underwriting performance metrics

 

Operational Performance

• Quote and conversion funnels
• Customer and broker journeys
• Operational KPIs
• Productivity and service metrics

 

Strengthen Governance & Customer Outcomes

• Enhance governance and oversight frameworks.
• Improve the use of data-driven oversight and monitoring.
• Support Consumer Duty requirements and customer outcome reporting.
• Identify emerging risks, trends and opportunities for intervention.
• Deliver high-quality governance reporting to senior stakeholders.

 

Lead and Influence

• Provide leadership to a growing team spanning data, MI, analytics and governance.
• Partner with senior leaders across Operations, Finance, Risk, Compliance, Underwriting and Technology.
• Build strong relationships with UK and International stakeholders.
• Translate complex information into clear, actionable business recommendations.
• Help shape the future direction of the UK business through insight and influence.

 

What We're Looking For:

We're interested in leaders who combine strong commercial awareness with proven experience in data, analytics and business performance.

 

Essential Experience

• Significant leadership experience within Data, MI, Analytics, Performance Management or Governance functions.
• Strong insurance industry experience, either commercial or personal lines.
• Proven ability to create insight-led reporting and decision-making frameworks.
• Excellent stakeholder management and executive-level communication skills.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and influencing across matrix organisations.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including understanding key insurance performance measures such as GWP, NWP, loss ratios and profitability drivers.
• Ability to simplify complexity and tell compelling stories through data.

 

We'd Particularly Love to See

• Experience working in regulated financial services environments.
• Consumer Duty or conduct risk exposure.
• Experience working with international or group-wide operating models.
• Understanding of US GAAP reporting principles.
• Exposure to AI-enabled analytics, automation or advanced reporting solutions.

 

Who Will Succeed in This Role?

 

You'll be a strategic leader rather than a technical specialist.

You'll enjoy bringing people together, influencing stakeholders and connecting business needs with data-driven solutions. You'll be naturally curious, commercially astute and comfortable operating at Executive level.

Most importantly, you'll understand how to turn information into action and help leaders make better decisions.

 

Why Join Markel?

 

This is an opportunity to build something meaningful.

You'll join a growing, ambitious business where you'll have the freedom to shape a newly created function, influence strategic direction and work alongside senior leaders across the UK and internationally.

 

In Return We Offer

• Competitive salary & 25% annual bonus opportunity
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Holiday buy and sell scheme
• Generous pension contribution
• Private medical insurance
• Dental cover
• Life assurance
• Income protection
• Travel insurance
• Season ticket loan
• Hybrid and flexible working
• Ongoing professional development opportunities

 

Ready to Make an Impact?

 

If you're a commercially minded data and insight leader looking for an opportunity to influence at executive level and shape the future of a growing specialist insurer, we'd love to hear from you.

 

Apply today and help us build a smarter, more insight-driven future for Markel UK

 

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with all reasonable accommodations to be able to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions if successful. Please contact us via email at [email protected] or call us at 0161 507 5827 to request any accommodations that may be needed. This includes any alternative formats of any documents or information on how to apply offline.

#LI-PC1

#LI-Hybrid #PlayYourPartUK