Markel International in legal head first

Insurance group Markel International has appointed its first ever head of legal.

Penny Whitwell has been promoted from her role as general counsel of the company’s professional liability division to become head of legal for the entire business.

Whitwell joined Markel in 1990 as a claims manager, moving to professional liability in 2001. She began her career at Sharp Pritchard, joining Wilde Sapte after qualification before moving into the insurance market a year later.

Markel International is a London subsidiary of the Markel Corporation based in the US. It underwrites a range of business including property, casualty, marine and aviation.