I am responsible for directing all aspects of Markel’s external and internal communications across its international business to support the delivery of strategic business objectives. I empower a successful team to – working in close collaboration with Brand and Marketing teams – proactively identify external communications opportunities that help to drive business growth and development, and personally manage a visibility programme for Markel International’s President and senior leaders, intended to build trust and establish greater authority in the marketplace. I also provide crisis management support and help to minimise negative sentiment across all external communications channels.Main achievements have included:• Managing the production and distribution of Markel International’s first Responsible Business Report, including internal and external communications strategy and accompanying materials.• Devising a new thought leadership and content marketing strategy and pipeline of regular content, including establishing quarterly Editorial Board Meetings to support ideas generation, chaired by the President.• Creating bespoke external communications plans for the President, market-facing Executive Committee members and chosen lines of business and executing these across international locations.

I led the company’s external communications team, comprising PR and media, Public Affairs and social media. I was tasked with revamping the company’s external communications function shortly after it had been acquired by Canadian insurer, Intact, with the primary objective of increasing proactivity to help drive new business enquiries and increase brand recognition. I also provided external communications counsel to the CEO and executive leadership team during a period of significant change and reputational risk for the business.Main achievements included:• Leading the external communications strategy around the sale of RSA’s UK Personal Lines business and its acquisition of the NIG, FarmWeb and Churchill Expert brands from Direct Line Group.• Devising the company’s new Public Affairs strategy, culminating in the visit of Anneliese Dodds MP, Chair of the Labour Party to RSA’s Liverpool office.• Overseeing the creation and delivery of bespoke external communications plans for RSA’s Personal Lines, Commercial Lines and Specialty Lines businesses, resulting in a 323% increase in earned media in 2023.• Launching a new thought leadership and content marketing strategy and delivering a coordinated content pipeline across various business areas.• Implementing a new social media strategy, which resulted in a significant YOY increase in engagements (97%), clickthroughs (89%) and impressions (65%).• Developing and executing a new ‘Employer of Choice’ PR strategy to improve talent attraction and retention. • Co-ordinating RSA’s apology for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.• Developing a new awards strategy to improve the quantity and quality of submissions, which led to a 450% increase in the number of awards shortlisted for in 2023.• Implementing new ways of working within the team, including quarterly reporting, a new reputational risk tracking framework and sign-off and file-sharing procedures.

I was responsible for setting external and internal communications strategy for AXA XL’s UK & Lloyd’s Market business unit and several global functions, including Sustainability and ESG. This involved leading a team to execute external communications campaigns to increase submission flow and bound business by positioning AXA XL as the most innovative commercial insurer in the UK insurance market. I also sat on the UK Incident Management Team and was responsible for crisis communications in the UK.Main achievements included:• Leading post-merger external and internal communications campaigns for AXA XL in the UK. This involved close collaboration with Brand and Marketing teams to establish brand recognition in the London insurance market and an internal culture centred on delivering sustainable, profitable growth. • Successfully positioning AXA XL and its UK CEO as industry leaders on the topic of Environmental, Social, and Governance at a time when it was still an emerging issue in insurance.• Co-ordinating the global external communications plan for the Global Health Risk Facility – a cross-industry undertaking to insure the transportation and storage of COVID-19 vaccines globally.• Being responsible for internal and external communications in the UK relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and return to office, including the production of more than 60 weekly virtual UK townhall calls.

I was responsible for external communications in the UK and Ireland and also provided PR/communications support to offices in Poland and India, in partnership with local agencies. I was eventually promoted to Communications Director for the UK & Lloyd’s Market.

I was responsible for devising and executing Marsh’s international thought leadership and content marketing strategy. This involved leading an international team to ensure the end-to-end delivery of bespoke thought leadership campaigns, comprising PR and media, content marketing and internal communications. I worked closely with senior leadership and business development teams to ensure deliverables aligned with company objectives and used analytics and KPIs to measure success and report activity to internal stakeholders.Main achievements included:• Collaborating with the World Economic Forum on its annual Global Risks reports. • Working with the UK Government on the 2015 UK Cyber Security Report. • Supporting Marsh’s global “Brexit” external communications strategy.