Markel appoints Dena Furmanek as senior underwriter for fine art in North America

Markel has announced the appointment of Dena Furmanek (pictured above) as senior underwriter – fine art, North America, effective immediately.

In this role, Furmanek will contribute to the expansion of Markel’s North American fine art portfolio, aligning with the insurer’s growth strategy within its international marine and energy division.

Before joining Markel, Furmanek spent more than nine years at MarketScout, where she most recently served as vice president – fine art and collections, overseeing the managing agent’s fine art business operations.

She initially joined MarketScout in 2015 as an underwriter – fine art and collections, and advanced through senior underwriting and managerial roles. Prior to her time at MarketScout, Furmanek held various administrative positions at organizations including QBE North America.

Furmanek’s responsibilities will include underwriting and servicing new and renewal business, as well as strengthening relationships with clients and brokers across the region. She will report to Kyle McGrath, head of US fine art, and will be based in the Chicago area.

McGrath noted that the global fine art insurance market is expanding, driven by rising art valuations and a changing risk environment for collectors, making partnerships with the right risk and insurance providers increasingly important.

“I’m delighted to welcome Dena to Markel,” he said. “She brings more than a decade of experience in the fine art, jewelry and collections insurance space and has a proven track record of delivering strong profitable underwriting management throughout that time. Her in-depth knowledge of this unique industry and product offerings, ability to interpret market trends and provide exceptional service to stakeholders make her a great addition to the team and further strengthen our offering for clients and brokers.”

In other recent developments, Markel has announced the appointment of Jim Hinchley as chief retail officer for its specialty division.

In this role, Hinchley will lead Markel’s retail strategy, focusing on driving growth in existing business and exploring new opportunities within the retail channel.

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