2022 Women to Watch Awards Americas EMEA
Marta Batalla Director
Ryan Specialty Transactional Risks International
Madrid
Marta Batalla’s chosen career was law, but after qualifying and working at several law firms she saw more opportunity in the insurance sector.
Specializing in insurance coverage for mergers and acquisitions, she said the move transformed her career and her life.
“I was not supported in my time in the legal world and had no confidence in my abilities, so felt I needed to move. I saw an opportunity to move into the insurance market and so joined ANV.”
Since moving to ANV, a specialty unit of Amtrust Financial Services Inc., in 2014 her working life has been much more positive, as interacting with colleagues from across Europe gives her particular pleasure and confidence.
“For the first time everyone appreciated my skills and knowledge, giving me the support I needed. At the beginning I felt a fraud, but it was an experience that allowed me to grow,” she said. “With that kind of support, you will grow to be your best person and to give the best back.”
In 2018 she was given another opportunity, this time to develop a business across Europe from a base in Spain with Ryan Specialty Transactional Risks International, a managing general agent unit of Ryan Specialty Holdings Inc.
She persuaded fellow director Luc Joordens to join her from ANV and they have spent the past four years building the business.
“Marta has truly been a market maker,” Mr. Joordens said. “In her role from the underwriting side, she has been the driving force behind the expansion and success of (warranty and indemnity) insurance in Spain and Portugal for the last eight years, educating brokers, lawyers, clients and other stakeholders on the products’ features and benefits.”
For the first five months of her time with Ryan Specialty, Ms. Batalla was based in London to learn the business. The experience proved transformational because she also met her husband, Antonio, in London. They have a 2-year-old son, Lucas.
“My overall ambition is to run the New York marathon with Lucas at my side, when he is 18 and I am 60,” she said.
