Mark Birrell is Chairman and CEO for Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers International. He joined the group in May of 2024 as part of Ryan Specialty’s acquisition of Castel, where he had been CEO for the previous 11 years.

Mark is an entrepreneur and insurtech innovator with over 45 years’ experience within the insurance industry. After over 20 years in the Lloyd’s broking community, in 1998 he co-founded Wildnet Group with Benfield, an internet-based insurance trading and processing platform. In April 2004, he led Wildnet’s MBO before stepping down from his CEO role in April 2013 and joining Castel in July 2013, where he oversaw the successful launch of the business and the creation of its first underwriting cells.

Mark was also elected to the Board of the Managing General Agents Association (MGAA) in February of 2016, where he served for four years and was Chairman of the Risk and Compliance Committee.