Two of the larger names in US specialty distribution are reinforcing their casualty and wholesale teams as market conditions continue to test both carriers and the brokers placing risks through them.
Lockton has appointed Vince Gaffigan (pictured, left) to lead its US casualty practice. He will work alongside Jessica Cullen, whose title has been expanded to executive vice president, US casualty - excess and product solutions. Both are based in St. Louis.
Gaffigan has spent more than 30 years in casualty and has held several leadership roles at Lockton, including a hand in advancing the firm’s market engagement. The dual-appointment structure pairs his relationship experience with Cullen’s focus on product innovation, analytics, and claims advisory.
Devin Beresheim, Lockton’s US risk solutions leader, said the combination of Gaffigan’s leadership experience and Cullen’s technical expertise would help the firm respond more quickly to changing market conditions. Tim Ryan, Lockton’s US president, described the move as a first step rather than a final one, with plans to build on casualty’s growth momentum.
The timing reflects where the market stands. Marsh found US casualty rates increased 7% in the second quarter of 2026, and 11%, excluding workers’ compensation, while risk-adjusted umbrella and excess rates rose 15%. WTW, meanwhile, in its fall Insurance Marketplace Realities report, attributed a possible peak in excess casualty rate increases to new capacity from MGAs and broker-led facilities, years of cumulative increases, and insurers deploying smaller limits. That combination makes technical expertise and market access more valuable at the account level.
CRC Group has hired Christina Becht (pictured, right) as senior underwriting team leader at CRC Specialty. She is based in Florida. Becht spent her career in the wholesale insurance market, most recently as vice president at RT Specialty in Tampa, where she focused on retail agency relationships and complex property and casualty placements.
Neil Kessler, CEO of CRC specialty + benefits, said Becht had built her career by earning the trust of partners and taking on increasing responsibility.
Her hire adds an experienced wholesale contact at a distributor active in one of the country’s most demanding specialty markets. AM Best reported that surplus lines premiums in the US grew 9.7% through the third quarter of 2025. Florida, where coastal habitational and commercial property risks remain difficult to place on admitted paper, continues to see strong E&S activity. CRC Specialty places $32 billion in annual premium across property and casualty and employee benefits nationwide.
