Starwind Specialty Insurance Services has started consolidating JH Blades, Southern Marine, and Energy Technical Underwriters into its new Starwind Marine and Energy brand, with the integration process still under development.
The consolidation follows recent leadership changes. Richard Martin retired from JH Blades earlier this year, and Graham Jenks (pictured below) assumed oversight of JH Blades Energy, JH Blades Marine, Southern Marine, and Energy Technical Underwriters effective March 1, 2025.
Jenks, who previously served as president of Southern Marine for eight years, has now been named president of Starwind Marine and Energy. Additional strategic appointments are expected in the coming months.
Jenks said the move provides clarity by aligning the company’s marine and energy operations under one structure, describing it as more than a name change. He said the brand represents a commitment to managing complex risks, maintaining specialized capacity, and supporting long-term client and carrier relationships.
Starwind co-president Alex Bonds said the launch brings the firm’s expertise across these sectors into one identity and continues its focus on underwriting standards and investment in people.
Earlier this year, Starwind also introduced several new insurance programs outside marine and energy. In May, the company launched Starwind Environmental, Starwind PVT (Political Violence & Terrorism), Starwind Equipment, and Starwind Cannabis. These offerings, led by program presidents Mike Padula, Chris Kirby, Randi Glazer, and Tony McIntosh respectively, were designed to give brokers tailored coverage in areas ranging from environmental exposures to terrorism risks, construction equipment protection, and cannabis industry insurance.
More recently, Starwind Specialty introduced Starwind Flood Placement Services (Starwind FPS), a property insurance program for residential and commercial risks nationwide. Led by Patrick Small, the initiative provides delegated underwriting authority, compliance with federal standards, and tools to help agents manage complex flood placements. The program was launched as insurers across the US property market face rising costs, reduced capacity, and regulatory changes.
Starwind also appointed Joe Jones as executive senior underwriter for Starwind Transportation, adding to its leadership expansion.
Starwind Specialty Insurance Services provides a program management operations in North America. Parent company CRC Insurance Group, LLC, has over 5,500 employees in the United States and Canada and places more than $30 billion in annual premiums annually.
Do you think consolidating these operations under one brand while expanding new programs will improve efficiency for Starwind and its partners? Share your perspective in the comments.
