Full-Time
Associate Business Development Specialist
Updated on 9/12/2026
Markel Group
51-200 employees
Three-engine financial holding: insurance, investments, ventures
Compensation Overview
$27.84 - $38.27/hr
No H1B Sponsorship
Denver, CO, USA
Hybrid
Three days in the office and two remote days are required each week, with quarterly travel to agencies in the assigned region.
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- A high school diploma or GED is required.
- A valid driver’s license and an acceptable Department of Motor Vehicles Motor Vehicle Record are required.
- The ability to stay focused and productive without constant supervision is required.
- A strong sense of accountability and goal orientation is required.
- Oral, written communication, and organizational skills are required.
- The ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment is required.
- The ability to work independently and within a team is required.
- The ability to follow processes and maintain attention to detail is required.
- Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, is required.
- U.S. work authorization is required.
- Execute Markel’s business plan for the assigned region and provide regular feedback on relationships, products, and the marketplace.
- Focus on distributing Small Commercial products while maintaining working knowledge of Markel’s broader product suite.
- Work with assigned agencies to maintain existing business and write new business through production phone calls and virtual meetings with agents.
- Achieve weekly production and virtual meeting targets set by leadership.
- Travel quarterly to visit agencies in assigned regions, with travel self-scheduled and independently managed.
- Develop product and organizational knowledge to provide accurate advice to customers.
- Develop and implement strategic plans to drive profitable premium growth and retention for new and current partnerships.
- Prepare reports on results to ensure business planning targets are met.
- Collaborate with the regional business development team, planning, and underwriting production teams.
- Support agent onboarding and training, including system and appetite training; enter accounts into Markel’s proprietary system; conduct quote follow-ups; establish goals and accountability with producers; learn and navigate the regional small commercial marketplace; and support agency terminations.
- Provide day-to-day support to Business Development Specialists.
- Help resolve agent issues in coordination with other departments.
- Represent Markel at conventions and events.
- A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience with some college coursework is preferred.
- One year of insurance experience is preferred.
Markel Group operates as a financial holding company with a three-engine model: specialty insurance, investments, and Markel Ventures (a portfolio of non-insurance businesses). Specialty insurance focuses on hard-to-place or niche risks, underwriting and managing risk through its insurance subsidiaries. Profits from the insurance businesses are reinvested into investments and into acquiring and holding profitable non-insurance companies, creating a diversified, resilient enterprise. The group’s investment engine uses generated earnings to fund external acquisitions and capital growth, while Markel Ventures builds a broad portfolio of long-term holdings in various industries. What sets Markel apart is its deliberate diversification across three connected engines and a long-term, capital-accumulation approach known as the
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Post IPO Equity
Headquarters
Glen Allen, Virginia
Founded
1930
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Q2 2026 combined ratio stayed in the low 90s, showing underwriting discipline.
- Markel repurchased $237 million in Q2 2026, funded entirely by earnings.
- AI partnerships with hyperexponential and Jump AI are automating Canadian underwriting workflows.
What critics are saying
- JANA's breakup campaign risks a forced Markel Ventures divestiture and management distraction.
- Q2 2026 included a $205 million State National reserve charge from a bankrupt capacity provider.
- If losses persist, Markel's conglomerate premium collapses into breakup pressure.
What makes Markel Group unique
- Markel’s three-engine model pairs specialty insurance, investments, and Markel Ventures.
- It targets hard-to-place risks like fine art, construction, and casualty.
- Patient capital lets Thomas Gayner hold businesses through cycles, unlike quarterly-focused insurers.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
401(k) Company Match
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Paid Vacation
Paid Holidays
Parental Leave
Flexible Work Hours
Remote Work Options
Hybrid Work Options
Company News
Markel Group reported Q2 revenue of $4.02 billion, beating analyst estimates but remaining flat year-on-year. However, adjusted earnings per share of $19.79 missed expectations by 35.3%, falling short of the $30.57 consensus. The profit shortfall stemmed from a $205 million reserve charge related to a credit loss in the State National business — the first such loss in over 40 years. CEO Thomas Gayner attributed this to "a unique and unfortunate confluence of events". Despite the charge, core insurance operations showed improvement, with a combined ratio in the low 90s and 10% growth in continuing business lines. Markel is investing heavily in artificial intelligence to enhance underwriting efficiency. The company launched Cortex, a new unit for hard-to-place casualty risks, and deployed AI tools across six business lines. The insurer repurchased $237 million in shares during the quarter, funded by earnings.
Markel Group reported Q2 2026 revenue of $4.02 billion, beating analyst estimates of $3.97 billion by 1.2%, though sales remained flat year on year. The specialty insurance company's GAAP profit of $92.76 per share exceeded consensus estimates by 13.9%. Net premiums earned reached $2.07 billion, surpassing expectations of $2.03 billion despite a 3.3% year-on-year decline. The combined ratio came in at 93%, slightly missing the analyst estimate of 92.1%. Chief executive Tom Gayner highlighted improved insurance underwriting and strong cash flow generation in the first half of 2026. The company continued share repurchases funded from net earnings. Over the past five years, Markel Group has grown revenue at a 9% compounded annual growth rate. However, recent performance shows slowing momentum, with annualised revenue growth of 2.6% over the last two years.
Markel Group has been removed from several Russell growth and midcap indexes in a single rebalancing, with changes taking effect at the latest Russell index reconstitution. The exclusion prompted adjustments by index-tracking funds and may affect trading activity, liquidity and visibility amongst institutional and passive investors. The diversified financial holding company, which operates across insurance, reinsurance and investment operations, reported flat first-quarter revenue and a $273 million operating loss driven by $727.6 million in net investment losses. However, its combined ratio improved from 96% to 93%. The index removal reflects how certain investor groups view the stock rather than changes in underlying operations. Active investors may monitor fund flow data and liquidity trends to assess whether index-related selling continues to influence trading volumes.
Markel Group Inc has appointed several executives to strengthen its insurance operations, including two leaders for its Canadian construction unit and a head for its London fine art division. The company announced Alisha Everett as assistant vice president and Nicholas Doy as manager of its Contractors, Trades and Construction Services unit on 15 June. In May, Markel appointed Danny O'Donoghue to lead its fine art portfolio expansion in London, citing increasing risks from rising asset values and high-profile thefts. The appointments support Markel's strategy to enhance its core insurance business whilst pursuing a share repurchase programme targeting 10% of outstanding shares over five years. More than 50 hedge funds currently back the Virginia-based conglomerate, which operates across insurance, investments and wholly-owned companies since its 1930 founding.
Markel Group and Skyward Specialty Insurance Group represent contrasting investment approaches in the specialty insurance sector. Markel operates as a diversified financial holding company with 62 offices across 16 countries, whilst Skyward targets underserved niche markets with flexible admitted and non-admitted insurance solutions. In FY 2025, Markel's revenue decreased 1% to $16.6 billion, with net income of $2.1 billion and a 12.7% net margin. The company maintains a conservative debt-to-equity ratio of 0.2x. Skyward posted stronger growth, with revenue rising 23% to $1.4 billion and net income increasing to $170 million, achieving a 12% net margin. Markel offers stability and diversification but faces concentration risk, with its top five brokers accounting for 37% of gross premiums. Skyward provides higher growth potential through its nimble approach to niche markets.