CRC Group Expands Leadership with New Chief Growth Officer and Strategic Rebrand

CRC Group, a leading name in the wholesale insurance sector, has recently appointed Todd Jones as its Chief Growth Officer, marking a significant step in its plans for strategic expansion. Joining in June, Jones will be directly reporting to CEO Dave Obenauer, leveraging his vast experience to propel the firm’s growth initiatives. With a rich history in the industry, having held influential positions such as Executive Vice President for Risk Capital at Aon, CEO of QBE North America, and Head of Risk & Broking at WTW, Jones is well-equipped to guide CRC Group towards achieving its broader long-term goals. His role will primarily focus on strengthening the company’s alignment with key clients and enhancing talent development within the corporation.

At Aon, Jones distinguished himself by working closely with the risk capital sector, where he was instrumental in executing strategies centered around business expansion. His deep understanding of the reinsurance and brokerage sectors has placed him as a respected figure in the insurance industry. Academically, Jones holds a Master of Business Administration degree from NYU's Stern School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University, reinforcing his profound strategic acumen and leadership capabilities. His appointment comes at a pivotal time for CRC Group as they aim to solidify their market presence and operational efficiency. By aligning more closely with key clients, CRC Group seeks to harness Jones’ expertise to drive forward its strategic initiatives and foster long-term growth.

Adding to its strategic roster, CRC Group also named Matt Zelenc as the Senior Vice President of its ExecPro and Healthcare Practice Groups, a move aligned with the company’s focus on specialization and peak performance in management and professional lines of coverage. Zelenc’s position involves oversight of teams dedicated to healthcare services, private company management liability, and cyber liability. In March, CRC Group unveiled a major rebranding initiative aimed at unifying its operations while reinforcing its status as an independent wholesale and underwriting powerhouse. This strategic rebranding saw the retirement of the TIH brand, transitioning fully to the CRC Group corporate identity.

The reorganization restructures CRC Group into two primary divisions: Specialty + Benefits and Underwriting. The Specialty + Benefits division consolidates its wholesale property, casualty operations, and the employee benefits business which will transition from the BenefitMall brand to the CRC Benefits label later in 2025. The Underwriting division includes Starwind and AmRisc, with Starwind debuting a fresh look as part of the rebranding process. These strategic changes are designed to enhance CRC Group's agility in the marketplace, ensuring it remains at the forefront of innovation and service excellence. As CRC Group continues on its trajectory of growth and transformation, the appointment of key leadership figures and a focused rebranding effort underscores its commitment to maximizing client value and enhancing industry impact.