Vivace Insurance Partners has promoted Cordell Fenig to chief executive officer of Vivace Americas, the Los Angeles-based managing general agent specializing in marine cargo and logistics insurance. Fenig joined the company as senior underwriter when Vivace Americas launched in March 2024, having previously worked at Roanoke Insurance Group, where he focused on marine, cargo, legal liability, and logistics insurance.
The appointment comes as the logistics insurance market is being pulled in two directions at once. Cargo rates are falling sharply. WTW's Spring 2026 marine cargo update reports that well-performing programs are seeing rate reductions of 7.5 to 15 percent or more at renewal, with capacity at its most robust in years as markets compete aggressively for premium volume. At the same time, a Supreme Court ruling handed down in May has materially increased the liability exposure of the freight brokers and logistics operators that MGAs like Vivace serve.
On May 14, 2026, the US Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC that state-law negligent hiring claims against freight brokers are not preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act. The decision removes the broad federal preemption defense that freight brokers have relied on for years to defeat negligent carrier selection claims at early stages of litigation. Claims that previously had a viable chance of dismissal before discovery will now proceed further. The ruling exposes freight brokers to increased litigation risk and potential liability for personal injuries linked to carrier selection, and is likely to drive up insurance costs and settlement values.
The insurance implications are already being felt in underwriting. Insurers are expected to tighten underwriting around broker safety protocols and documentation, with greater scrutiny of how insureds select and vet carriers. Brokers with robust written vetting practices and documented carrier selection procedures are likely to attract better terms than those without.
For a logistics MGA operating in this environment, the combination of softer cargo rates and rising broker liability creates a complex placement picture. Rates that look favorable on cargo may not account for the broader cost exposure now flowing through the broker liability channel following the ruling.
Fenig plans to expand Vivace's carrier relationships through Markel and push toward Lloyd's coverholder status, which would give the company broader delegated authority and faster placement capability for complex risks.
