Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, the Business Development Account Executive (BDAE), Canada West is a key member of the Business Development & Marketing Team (BDMT). The BDAE, Canada West will assist in building a more agile and effective sales and marketing capability that will underpin long-term sustainable and profitable growth for Markel Canada. This role reflects Markel's increasing focus on the customer and its move away from providing products on a purely transactional basis, toward solution-oriented relationships.
A key member of the Canadian BDMT which oversees and leads Sales & Marketing activities across Markel Canada, the BDAE, Canada West, will work closely with the SVP, Sales & Marketing as other senior Field Leadership Team (FLT) leads to drive the significant growth ambitions for the Canadian market. This will include leveraging data and market insights to proactively identify and target customers and effectively building the customer journey with a focus on customer experience.
The Opportunity:Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, the Business Development Account Executive (BDAE), Canada West is a key member of Markel Canada's Business Development & Marketing Team (BDMT). The role is responsible for executing business development and distribution strategies that drive sustainable, profitable growth across Western Canada through strong broker engagement, market intelligence, data-driven opportunity identification, and exceptional customer experiences.
Acting as a trusted advisor to broker partners and an ambassador for the Markel brand, the BDAE plays a critical role in strengthening market presence, generating new business opportunities aligned with Markel's risk appetite, and supporting the organization's long-term growth strategy.
What you'll be doing:Sales, Distribution and Relationship Management- Develop and execute territory-based business development plans that support Markel Canada's growth objectives across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
- Build, maintain and strengthen executive-level relationships within a designated portfolio of key broker partners, acting as a trusted advisor and primary Markel representative.
- Conduct regular broker reviews to evaluate relationship health, identify growth opportunities, and support mutual business objectives.
- Actively generate and qualify new business opportunities that align with Markel Canada's underwriting appetite and strategic priorities.
- Partner with underwriting teams to facilitate broker engagement, increase submission flow, and support profitable premium growth.
- Clearly communicate Markel's value proposition, product capabilities, market position, and strategic priorities to internal and external stakeholders.
- Represent Markel at broker meetings, industry conferences, client events, and trade shows to enhance brand awareness and market presence.
Strategic Growth and Market Development- Leverage market intelligence, portfolio analysis, and customer insights to identify emerging opportunities, growth sectors, and new customer segments.
- Support the development and execution of national sales and marketing initiatives that increase brand awareness and market penetration.
- Collaborate with leadership and product specialists to contribute to strategic planning, distribution segmentation, and growth initiatives.
- Monitor competitive activity and market trends, identifying opportunities to strengthen Markel's market positioning and competitive advantage.
CRM, Pipeline Management and Reporting- Maintain accurate and timely information within Markel's Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform to support visibility, forecasting, and business planning.
- Manage sales pipeline activity, broker engagement tracking, and opportunity reporting to drive accountability and performance.
- Deliver accurate three-month new business forecasts and provide meaningful insights on broker activity, market conditions, and growth opportunities.
- Identify process improvement opportunities and collaborate with technology and business teams to enhance sales effectiveness and data quality.
Product, Marketing and Business Support- Partner with marketing and product leaders to develop client-facing sales and marketing materials that support business objectives.
- Ensure broker-facing product information accurately reflects current underwriting appetite, product strategy, and market positioning.
- Support the launch of new products, services, territories, and distribution initiatives across Canada.
- Champion The Markel Style by demonstrating collaboration, accountability, inclusivity, professionalism, and a customer-first mindset in all interactions.
What You Will Bring to the RoleEssential Skills, Knowledge and ExperienceThe successful candidate will possess:
- Substantial relevant sales, business development, relationship management, or distribution experience within insurance, financial services, or a comparable business-to-business environment.
- Proven success developing strategic client or broker relationships and achieving measurable growth objectives.
- Strong understanding of consultative selling, business development, pipeline management, and customer engagement practices.
- Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence effectively at all levels.
- Strong analytical and commercial acumen, with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make informed business recommendations.
- Experience working with CRM platforms and utilizing data to manage customer relationships and sales opportunities.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across multiple teams and stakeholders.
- Commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences and embodying Markel's values and culture.
Desirable Skills, Knowledge and Experience- Experience working with commercial insurance broker distribution channels.
- Knowledge of specialty insurance products and underwriting principles.
- Experience developing sales presentations, marketing content, or business proposals.
- Experience with Microsoft Dynamics CRM or similar customer relationship management systems.
- Familiarity with artificial intelligence, digital enablement tools, and data-driven knowledge platforms.
If you're ready to make an impact, we'd love to hear from you!
Additional InformationThis role is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, operating within a hybrid work arrangement requiring a minimum of three days per week in the office. Regular travel throughout Western Canada is required, with occasional travel to Toronto and other Canadian locations as business needs dictate.
Pay information:$80k - $110k
This salary range reflects the expected base compensation for the role across Canada. Placement within the range will depend on a number of factors, including experience, qualifications, and the scope of responsibilities. As part of our commitment to transparency and supporting our people, we share this range in good faith and in accordance with applicable legislation.
#LI-Hybride
#LI-Hybrid
