In the news!

CRC Group, a leading wholesale specialty insurance distributor in North America, announces the integration of INSUREtrust, formerly housed in Starwind, into its Wholesale Brokerage Division. This strategic combination bolsters CRC Group’s cyber capabilities and expertise and broadens INSUREtrust’s network. The newly formed cyber practice group reinforces CRC’s commitment to providing innovative solutions in the rapidly evolving cyber insurance landscape.

Neil Kessler will lead a newly formed Wholesale Division including the Commercial Solutions businesses (CRC Brokerage, CRC Binding, and Tapco) and the Life, Retirement, and Benefits businesses (BenefitMall, Crump, and Hanleigh). There will be no changes to any underlying operating brand names or leadership teams for those businesses.

CRC Group Furthers Commitment to Data and Analytics Strategy with the Appointment of Angela Alaniz as Chief Digital Officer, Commercial Solutions

(August 1, 2023) – CRC Group, one of North America's leading wholesale specialty insurance distributors, announced exciting changes coming to their Nashville, Tennessee office and Starwind Programs Division. As of August 1, Senior Vice President & Property Broker Farrah Schubmehl is taking on the role of office president with CRC Nashville. Schubmehl succeeds Jake Blackshear, Nashville office president since 2010, who will join Starwind to assist in developing a new Starwind Transportation brand.

CRC Group, the leading wholesale specialty insurance distributor in North America, announced the addition of Kristyn Smallcombe as Casualty Practice Group Director. Smallcombe will join Commercial Solutions Division’s National Casualty Practice Group Leader, Bob Greenebaum, in supporting the CRC Casualty team on a nationwide basis. Smallcombe comes from Argo Group US and will join CRC Group starting January 24th. She brings 20+ years of industry experience to the role, having held senior Casualty positions at Argo, Swiss Re, and AIG/Lexington.

CRC Group is excited to announce that our Specialty Programs Division will begin trading under our new Starwind brand beginning October 18, 2022. Created through the combination of CRC Programs and the recently acquired Constellation Affiliated Partners, Starwind will be among the largest program managers in North America, serving more than 10,000 insureds and writing more than $3 billion in annual premium across more than 30 brands.

CRC Group, the leading wholesale specialty insurance distributor in North America, announced that the company closed on the acquisition of BenefitMall effective September 1, 2022. The addition of BenefitMall, the nation's largest benefits wholesale general agency, will enable CRC Group to provide the broadest array of insurance products and services available from any wholesale distributor in the marketplace today.

We are excited to announce that CRC Group has signed a definitive agreement to acquire BenefitMall, the nation's largest employee benefits general agency. With this acquisition, CRC Group will provide retail agents with the broadest array of insurance products and services available from any wholesale distributor in the marketplace today, including property and casualty, life, annuity, long-term care, and now employee benefits. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2022, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Billy Pinson, president of TAPCO Underwriters, a division of CRC Group, passed away unexpectedly early Thursday morning. He was 61 years old.

On Wednesday, September 28,  the Insurance Insider handed out its annual Inside P&C Honors awards.   The awards, judged by a panel of industry experts, recognize achievement in the US wholesale, specialty, and (re)insurance markets. CRC Group received two awards; one for MGA/MGU of the Year and one for M&A Transaction of the Year.