Stroud arrives with 18 years of industry experience, most recently serving at AXA XL, where she focused on oil, gas, and energy transition risks. In her new capacity, she will collaborate with Head of Marine Liability Rhys O'Neill to sharpen underwriting strategies and expand the firm's cross-class facilities. McFarlane joins from Tokio Marine HCC International, bringing eight years of expertise to support product development and broker engagement.

Both executives report to Grant Smith, who leads the Marine Transportation division. The appointments align with the firm’s broader push to provide more robust coverage against a backdrop of geopolitical volatility and disrupted global shipping lanes. By integrating Hull & Hull War, MECO, and Transport & Logistics units, Markel intends to offer more precise risk mitigation tools to clients navigating an increasingly complex energy landscape.