The Board of Directors of MVB Financial Corp. announced that W. Marston Becker has been named Chairman of the Board.
Becker, who has been a member of the Board since November 2020, replaces retiring Chairman David B. Alvarez. Becker is a member of the following Board Committees: Finance, Human Resources and Edge Ventures.
“Marty’s leadership and experience have proven to be a great asset to the MVB Board of Directors as MVB continues to scale and execute our MVB-F1: Success Loves Speed Strategic Plan,” said Larry F. Mazza, CEO, MVB Financial. “Marty has more than 35 years of experience in CEO and chairman leadership positions in insurance, reinsurance and insurance brokerage organizations in the U.S. and internationally, as well as insurance-related private equity, advisory and investment banking roles.”
Becker is past Chairman of the Board of the large market capitalization QBE Insurance Group (“QBE”), a top 15 global property and casualty insurer. QBE is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and writes over $15 billion of annual premiums through operations on five continents. He was appointed to the Board in 2013, became Chair in 2014 and served until March 2020.
Becker served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Alterra Capital Holdings Limited (“Alterra”), and its predecessors from 2006 to 2013. Alterra, acquired in 2013 by Markel Corporation, was a global specialty insurance and reinsurance company headquartered in Bermuda. Becker joined Alterra’s predecessor Max Capital Group Ltd. in 2006 as Chairman and CEO, having been a director since 2004. Prior to that, he led the restructuring and wind-down of Trenwick Group Ltd.; served as non-executive chairman of Hales & Company; was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orion Capital Corporation, a NYSE-listed company with assets exceeding $4 billion; served as President and CEO of DPIC Companies, an Orion Capital subsidiary; was President and CEO of McDonough Caperton Insurance Group; and worked with the public accounting firm of Ernst & Young.
Becker serves on a variety of corporate boards in the financial services, manufacturing and non-profit sectors: director of Axis Capital (NYSE: AXS), director of Encova Mutual Insurance in Columbus, Ohio; director of Amynta Group in New York City; Advisory Board member of private equity funds American Securities, Cohesive Capital, Madison Dearborn Partners and Station Partners; director of The Mountain Companies of Parkersburg, West Virginia; member of the Board of Governors of West Virginia University; director of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce; and the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences.
Becker earned his Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degrees from West Virginia University. He is a Certified Public Accountant. He has received various honors, including being named to the West Virginia University Academy of Distinguished Alumni and the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame. He received the Leading CPA in Business designation of the West Virginia Society of CPAs, the Delta Tau Delta National Alumni Achievement Award and the 2019 Spirit of the Valley award for community service in Charleston, West Virginia.
Becker and his wife Katharine reside in Jupiter, Florida, and Charleston, West Virginia.