CRC Group is a leading independent wholesale specialty insurance distributor headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The firm was founded in 1982 and has grown into one of North America’s largest pure-play wholesale brokerages, serving retail brokers and carrier partners. It operates through specialty brokerage, underwriting, and employee benefits divisions.
Website: crcgroup.com
Head office address: 550 South Caldwell Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
Founded: 1982
Company type: private; owned by Stone Point Capital and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
Business focus: wholesale specialty insurance distribution, underwriting, and employee benefits
Regions served: United States, with international operations following the 2025 Atrium acquisition
The company began in 1982 as a wholesale insurance distributor. Over more than four decades, it expanded through acquisitions and organic growth to become one of North America’s largest independent specialty distributors. Key milestones include:
The 2024 acquisition by Stone Point Capital and CD&R marked a turning point, providing fresh capital for a renewed push into specialty underwriting and international markets.
The distributor operates through two main divisions, each serving a distinct part of the specialty market. Its wholesale and underwriting businesses help retail brokers place non-standard or hard-to-place risks. Core capabilities include:
CRC says it works with more than 650 carrier partners, giving retail brokers access to a broad panel of admitted and non-admitted markets across property, casualty, professional liability, and employee benefits.
The company competes in the excess and surplus (E&S) and specialty wholesale segment. Its scale, carrier relationships, and underwriting capabilities position it as a significant consolidator in a fragmented distribution market. The 2025 Atrium acquisition extended the firm’s reach into Lloyd’s, while the 2026 Euclid deal added transactional insurance expertise. Private-equity backing from Stone Point and CD&R provides capital for continued acquisition activity.
The firm has been recognized by Insurance Business America for its work in the specialty wholesale market. In the IBA Hot 100 2026, one of its senior leaders was named among the top 100 insurance leaders in the United States. The list recognizes professionals who shaped the industry over the previous 12 months.
The IBA Hot 100 2026 is one of Insurance Business America’s flagship recognition programs, highlighting leadership across the US insurance market.
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