The Board of Directors of Crawford & Company, a global provider of claims management and outsourcing solutions to insurance companies and self‐insured entities, has appointed W. Bruce Swain, Jr. as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately.
Since January 1st, 2026, Swain has served in the dual position of interim, working closely with the leadership team to support the firm’s ongoing priorities. He will continue to serve as a member of Crawford’s executive leadership team and the company’s Board.
Swain has been with Crawford for over three decades, spending 19 years as Chief Financial Officer. He has been instrumental in shaping the company’s financial strategy and global operations.
Jesse Crawford, Jr., Non-Executive Board Chair, commented, “Since stepping into the interim role, Bruce continued to demonstrate a clear understanding of the business and his strong connection with the leadership team. The board has full confidence in Bruce’s ability to lead Crawford forward, and we are pleased to appoint him president and chief executive officer on a permanent basis.”
Swain added, “I am honoured to continue leading Crawford as president and chief executive officer. I look forward to working with our leadership team and colleagues around the world as we remain focused on serving our clients and executing our strategy.”
Simultaneously, Jesse Crawford, Sr., member of Crawford’s Board of Directors since 1986 and a former Board Chair, has disclosed his intention not to stand for re-election at the 2026 Annual Shareholder Meeting (ASM) to be held on May 14th, 2026, as part of a thoughtful and orderly board transition.
To recognise his remarkable contributions to the company’s growth, stability and culture, the board will appoint Crawford as an honorary member of the board and confer upon him the title of emeritus officer of the company, effective at the conclusion of the ASM.
Crawford represents the second generation of the Crawford family’s leadership. He is the son of founder Jim Crawford and has played a pivotal role in guiding the Company through multiple decades of expansion and transformation.
The firm will honour Crawford’s service during the Annual Shareholder Meeting, where his transition into his honorary role will take effect.
Through his four-decade-long service, he helped shape Crawford’s global footprint, strengthen its financial foundation, and championed the core values that continue to define the company today. As the majority shareholder, he has also remained a steward of continuity and long-term strategic vision.
Jesse Crawford, Jr. added, “My father has been a dedicated steward of Crawford and our mission to serve our clients, their policyholders, and our colleagues. He has been a mentor to many, a stabilising force through turbulent times, and a constant advocate for our colleagues around the world. I am honoured to continue championing those same ideals and building on the foundation of ‘Top Quality, Promptly,’ that my grandfather laid out 85 years ago.”
Swain said, “Jesse Sr. has been instrumental in positioning Crawford & Company for sustained success. He has long embodied the values on which the company was built — service, integrity and a deep commitment to doing what’s right for our clients, colleagues and shareholders. We are grateful for his decades of dedication and pleased to continue benefiting from his perspective as an honorary member of the board.”
