Julian hails from the north of England where he grew up around horses; his passion was stimulated from a very early age accompanying his father to the races whenever he had a runner. This early interest led to a 25-year career in the specialist area of insuring horses. After initially starting in the Lloyd's of London insurance market as a broker, Julian switched to the underwriting side to work for a company, who at the time was the largest insurer of horses in the world.  After going back to Lloyd's in 1990 as the Deputy Underwriter on a small specialist syndicate, he then joined a large multi-national insurance company to set up an equine division.  Over a 15 year period, he built the account into one of the largest insurers of thoroughbred horses in the world, insuring some of the world's most valuable bloodstock, and responsible for teams of underwriters in three different countries (United Kingdom, USA and Spain).  The account was additionally expanded to include the specialized areas of livestock, exotic animals (pandas, killer whales, alpacas, etc), and commercial fish farms.  Julian has owned shares in horses that have raced in the United Kingdom, the United States (Breeder's Cup Classic), Dubai (Dubai World Cup), Ireland, Japan and South Africa. Julian is based at Markel's head office in Richmond, Virginia. 

Click here to email Julian.

John Egan, Underwriting Manager (Lexington, Kentucky)

After graduating from University with a Business degree in 1997, John worked for a Property and Casualty insurance broker in London, before moving into the horse industry as an assistant trainer based at Wolverhampton racecourse, England.  John then worked for Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber's farms of Watership Down in England and Kiltinan Castle in Tipperary, Ireland, before relocating to Kentucky and Lane's End Farm in 2002.  John decided to combine his experience in the horse and insurance industries by becoming an Equine Insurance Agent for a broker in Versailles, KY in 2004 and then as an Underwriter for a large multi-national insurance company specializing in horse insurance, before joining Markel in 2008.  John regularly appears on the Horse Racing Radio Network's Saturday morning show to discuss the horses on the Kentucky Derby Trail and to promote the Markel Lexington office.  He also ran the 2009 Freshman Sire Competition and currently assists with the Freshman Sire Contest in partnership with the Thoroughbred Times. John produces a twice monthly newsletter regarding this competition called 'The Freshman'. Please visit the "Freshman Sire Competition" page,  located under the "What's Happening" section of our website. 

Click here to email John.

L. Dianne Weidner, Assistant Underwriter (Lexington, Kentucky)

Nearly ten years ago, Dianne chose to leave her career in public accounting to pursue her interest in the horse industry and managed a full-care horse boarding farm.  With a lifelong passion for horses, she discovered a particular interest within the Thoroughbred world, and in her free-time assisted one boarder with her breeding/racing operation.  She moved to Lexington in 2002 and began working as a veterinary technician at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital.  In the five years she spent working for RREH, Dianne developed a solid understanding of equine health and medicine, moving into a shift supervisory role and later a billing specialist role.  In late 2007, she accepted a position in the claims department of a large multi-national insurance company specializing in horse insurance, where she found she could utilize both her equine and business backgrounds quite well.  Dianne then joined the Markel Underwriting Team in October 2008 and brings an enthusiasm for the business not only as a big racing fan, but also as a horseman and proud Thoroughbred owner.

Click here to email Dianne.

Terri Sible joined the Markel team in 2010 as an underwriter with a focus on exotics and livestock.  She joined Markel with 14 years of experience as an office manager and livestock/exotic animal underwriter. Her underwriting experience runs from cattle and equine to whales and dolphins. It is always a challenge to review these interesting risks and Terri is looking forward to working with the Markel team to expand this area. She holds a CISR designation and will continue to pursue her CPCU designation. While livestock mortality insurance is very specialized, Terri feels expanding her general insurance knowledge is important.  Terri will manage the equine and exotic risks at American Live Stock in Geneva, IL.  

Click here to email Terri.

Elaine Young, Administrative Assistant (Lexington, Kentucky)

Elaine, though Kentucky born & raised, didn’t cultivate her love of the horse until her family moved to Louisiana.  There she rode Hunter/Jumpers competitively and purchased her first horse, a quarter horse mare, now retired but still living on the family’s central Kentucky farm.  After graduating in 2005 from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Communication & Marketing, she began working for a large full service equine hospital.  There she was responsible for marketing, graphic design and event planning, along with serving as the executive assistant to the CEO and Board of Directors and managing the front office.  After ten years of service a change was desired and she joined the Markel team in the Spring of 2011.  Elaine is excited to support the underwriting team and develop worthwhile marketing efforts for Markel Lexington.

Click here to email Elaine.

Juliet's bloodlines are strongly associated with the Lloyd's insurance industry; her grandfather was deputy chairman of Lloyd's and her great-great uncle was Chairman of Lloyd's, so it seemed natural for Juliet to enter the industry. Deciding on the area of expertise was also not a problem; Juliet grew up with horses and has ridden all her life; bloodstock and horses in general have been a lifelong passion.  It wasn't until her late teenage years that she developed an interest in thoroughbred racing, to such an extent that during summer breaks from obtaining her degree at Exeter University, she took placements at various stud farms, including a stint at Sheikh Mohammed's Kildangan Stud in Ireland.  Juliet joined a Lloyd's bloodstock broking firm in 1991 and after seven very educational years she moved to the other side of the fence and started underwriting, joining the team of a large Lloyd's syndicate specializing in equine risks.  After four years, she joined Julian Bowen-Rees in 2002 as Deputy Bloodstock Underwriter and was involved in the dramatic growth of the business in the ensuing years.  Juliet joined Markel in December 2008 as a Senior Underwriter, and after nearly 18 years in the industry, she remains as enthusiastic and passionate about her job as the day she first started.

Click here to email Juliet.

Jeremy Chappell, Underwriter-Equine & Livestock (London, England)

Jeremy has been working in the London insurance market since 1994, keeping up a family history in the equine insurance business that dates back to 1965 with his father, who wrote bloodstock, livestock and aquaculture insurance through his own syndicate at Lloyd's of London.  Jeremy started out as a claims adjuster for a Lloyd's broker specializing in bloodstock, and worked through to being an account handler and broker for some of the top stud farms and racing operations in the world.  After taking a position with a large multi-national insurer in 2004 as Assistant Underwriter, he moved to Kentucky in 2007 to head up their Underwriting team, focusing specifically on the US thoroughbred market.  Jeremy holds a diploma with the Chartered Insurance Institute and is currently writing global equine and livestock risks through Markel Syndicate 3000 based in Lloyd's of London.

Click here to email Jeremy.

Alex has had a lifelong passion for horses since the age of 4 and on leaving college in 1972 evented Internationally and produced a Burghley/Rolex winner in one of USA's great Event horses Carawich (ridden by Jimmy Wofford).  Dabbling in both National Hunt and Flatracing ownership and Breeding, he joined Willis Faber in the London Insurance Market in 1974 as a broker and was invited in 1980 to join Stephen Chappell (Jeremy's father) in his Underwriting Syndicate at Lloyds prior to venturing out on his own. After some 30 years Underwiriting specialist Bloodstock and Livestock insurance in Lloyd's, Alex joined Markel as a consultant in 2010, whilst maintaining his links with sports horses as chairman of Selectors for the UK National Youth squads. A passionate devotee of all Equine sports, he is also a keen fisherman and noted Equine photographer. 

Click here to email Alex.

Laura Harrison, Senior Claims Adjuster (London, England)

Laura graduated from University College of London in 2004 with a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry. After completing her Advanced Diploma in Insurance, Laura qualified as a Chartered Insurer and is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute.  She has been working in the London insurance market for over five years and has a broad experience of the equine and insurance industry, providing her with an invaluable insight to all areas of the claims function.

Click here to email Laura. 

Bahar Rokni, Assistant Underwriter (London, England)

Bahar graduated from the University of Sheffield where she gained a BSc (Hons) in Zoology. Having a life long passion for horses, she spent several years working in the equine industry and qualified as a British Horse Society instructor before developing her career in the City. She currently supports the equine and livestock team in the London office with the day-to-day running of the equine portfolio.  Bahar has gained her Chartered Insurance Institute Certificate in Insurance.

Click here to email Bahar.