10 Markel underwriting leaders
Connie Masella, Executive Underwriting Officer - Property & Marine, is one of these Markel underwriting leaders, whose titles name lines such as inland marine, professional liability, excess casualty, management liability and commercial surety. A reader can learn how underwriting leaders work at Markel from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Connie Masella
LinkedInExperience: Executive Underwriting Officer - Property & Marine · Markel
Connie Masella has been Executive Underwriting Officer - Property & Marine at Markel since August 2025 and has also been Senior Managing Director there since March 2024. The profile describes property underwriting in E&S, leading and managing a national catastrophe risk portfolio and product line management.
Katie Fireman
LinkedInExperience: Director, Commercial E&O · Markel
Katie Fireman has been Director, Commercial E&O at Markel since February 2026, and the profile headline reads Director, Central Commercial E&O at Markel. At Markel, Katie Fireman was Underwriting Manager from 2024 to 2026 and Associate Underwriting Manager from 2022 to 2024, and the profile cites expertise in Miscellaneous Professional Liability.
Leandra V.
LinkedInExperience: Director, Commercial Surety · Markel
Leandra V. has been Director, Commercial Surety at Markel since August 2024 and was Commercial Underwriting Manager at Markel from 2022 to 2024. Leandra V. was Executive Underwriter at Arch Insurance Group Inc. from 2020 to 2022 and Senior Commercial Underwriter at Markel Surety/SureTec Insurance Company from 2018 to 2020.
Michael Driscoll
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Professional Liability · Markel
Michael Driscoll has been Vice President, Professional Liability at Markel since June 2015, based in Hoboken, New Jersey. Michael Driscoll was Underwriting Manager at CNA Insurance from 2000 to 2003 and Financial Analysis/Senior Underwriter at AIG from 1994 to 2000, and the profile headline reads Vice President, Professional Liability.
Michelle Sipple
LinkedInExperience: Head of Inland Marine - Product Line Leader · Markel
Michelle Sipple has been Head of Inland Marine - Product Line Leader at Markel since January 2026. Michelle Sipple was Senior Vice President, Inland Marine at Crum & Forster from 2022 to 2025, Head of Inland Marine and Construction at Everest from 2019 to 2022 and Senior Vice President, Portfolio Executive, E&S Property, Global Head of Inland Marine at Lexington Insurance Company from 2013 to 2019.
Sam Dennis
LinkedInExperience: Director, Underwriting - Property & Marine · Markel
Sam Dennis has been Director, Underwriting - Property & Marine at Markel since August 2025. At Markel, Sam Dennis was Underwriting Manager - Brokerage Property from 2024 to 2025 and Senior Underwriter - Brokerage Property from 2021 to 2024, and Sam Dennis was Underwriter - Assistant Vice President E&S Property at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions from 2017 to 2021.
Scott Whitehead
LinkedInExperience: Executive Underwriting Officer - Casualty · Markel
Scott Whitehead has been Executive Underwriting Officer - Casualty at Markel since June 2025. At Markel, Scott Whitehead was Managing Director, Markel Insurtech Underwriters from 2020 to 2025, Managing Director, Markel Digital from 2017 to 2020, Managing Director, Markel Specialty from 2015 to 2017 and Managing Director, Binding P&C from 2012 to 2015.
Shawn Purves
LinkedInExperience: Director, Underwriting - Management Liability · Markel
Shawn Purves has been Director, Underwriting - Management Liability at Markel since August 2025. At Markel, Shawn Purves was Underwriting Manager, Retail Management Liability in 2025, Associate Underwriting Manager, Retail Management Liability from 2024 to 2025 and Senior Underwriter, Retail Management Liability from 2023 to 2024.
Stan Snipes
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, Underwriting & Production - Excess Casualty · Markel
Stan Snipes has been Senior Director, Underwriting & Production - Excess Casualty at Markel since March 2024, based in Midlothian, Virginia. Stan Snipes was Assistant Underwriting Manager at James River Insurance Company from 2020 to 2021, Underwriting Consultant at CNA Insurance from 2016 to 2019 and Sr. Underwriter at Berkley Mid-Atlantic Insurance Group from 2008 to 2016.
William Egan
LinkedInExperience: Director - Primary Casualty · Markel
William Egan has been Director - Primary Casualty at Markel since August 2025, and the profile headline reads Director, Underwriting - Primary Casualty at Markel Specialty. At Markel, William Egan was Underwriting Manager from 2023 to 2025 and Associate Underwriting Manager from 2021 to 2023.
Choose the right perspective
Match the specialty line named in a person's title to the risk or decision you are working through. Weigh whether you need someone who sets direction for a whole line or a director who runs underwriting for one product day to day.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you focus on first when you took on your underwriting leadership role at Markel?
- 02How do you decide which risks fit the appetite of the line you lead?
- 03What has your own work at Markel taught you about growing underwriters into leaders?
Reaching Markel underwriting leaders
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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