Inside HIVE: Mark Shurville – A Lifelong Passion for Aviation
Mark Shurville, Aviation Analyst at HIVE Underwriters, has lived and breathed aviation since 1991. With over three decades of experience in the industry, his passion is as strong today as it was the day he started.
“I’ve always been involved in aviation,” Mark reflects. “Many of my family members worked in it. My mum even bought me a subscription to Flight International. One day, I saw an advert for an analyst role at Lloyd’s, and I got the job.” It was a dream come true, for a young man who’d longed to work in the aviation sector. “Suddenly, I was in the world I’d always wanted to be in.”
The evolution of aviation insurance
Since then, Mark has witnessed the evolution of the aviation insurance industry from both a technical and cultural perspective. “It’s always been a close-knit community, and that’s something I’ve really valued. The interest in aviation has never gone away, even if the way we do business has changed.”
Mark recalls a time before emails and smartphones when face-to-face meetings were the norm. “You really got to know people that way. That sense of camaraderie is still there, even if it’s not quite what it once was.”
In 2019, after a career spanning Lloyd’s, WTW, Marsh, and other major players, Mark joined HIVE. “It was a turning point. I received a job offer from Bruce, and I’d never worked for an underwriter before. I met with him, and he sold me on the vision. I’ve not regretted it for a second.”
Impressive underwriting talent
So what makes HIVE stand out? “We’ve got incredibly impressive underwriters across all lines,” Mark says. “They don’t just say yes to everything, they truly analyse risk. Bruce is also brilliant at judging people by their knowledge. At other places, I might not have even been given the opportunity.”
Compared to the larger corporate environments he came from, HIVE has offered Mark a fresh perspective. “At much bigger companies - where there are many more layers in each process - you often don’t get to see the end result of your work. Here, you do. If you have a valid point of view, it’s heard, and you see the impact of your contribution.”
Stability and a sense of purpose
Culturally, HIVE has been a natural fit. “It’s informal, open, and collaborative. Bruce is committed to ensuring young people get office experience, which is so important these days. We all work hard, but because we can see the results, we’re happy to do it. We sit down weekly for open discussions. Everyone is listened to. We’re friends, not just colleagues—and that makes a huge difference.”
For Mark, the move to HIVE has reignited the same excitement he felt at the start of his career. “There’s stability here, a sense of purpose, and a shared passion for what we do. After more than 30 years in the industry, that still means everything.”
