W. Bruce Swain becomes Crawford & Company (NYSE: CRD) CEO
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Crawford & Company has appointed W. Bruce Swain Jr., age 62, as its president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. Swain had been serving as interim president and CEO since January 1, 2026, and previously spent 19 years as executive vice president and chief financial officer after joining the company in 1991.
The filing notes there are no family relationships or related-party transactions involving Swain, and his compensation terms remain as previously disclosed when he became interim CEO. The company also announces that long-time director Jesse C. Crawford Sr. will not stand for reelection at the May 14, 2026 annual shareholder meeting and will instead become an honorary board member and emeritus officer in recognition of roughly four decades of service.
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Insights
Crawford confirms its interim CEO as permanent leader and manages a planned board transition.
Crawford & Company elevates W. Bruce Swain Jr. from interim to permanent president and CEO, keeping leadership continuity after his many years as CFO and executive leader. The filing emphasizes his long tenure and financial leadership background, which supports stability rather than a strategic reset.
Board dynamics also evolve as long-serving director and majority shareholder Jesse C. Crawford Sr. plans to leave the board at the May 14, 2026 annual meeting. His move to honorary director and emeritus officer status signals an orderly, pre-announced transition rather than an abrupt governance change.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On March 23, 2026, the Board of Directors of Crawford & Company (the “Company”) appointed William Bruce Swain, Jr., age 62, to the positions of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Swain has been serving as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer since January 1, 2026, as previously announced in our Form 8-K filed on November 21, 2025. He was also appointed by the Board as a Director on January 1, 2026. Since October 2006, Mr. Swain served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He has held several leadership positions within Crawford since joining in 1991 including, managing several functions within the Finance Department and acting as the Company’s Senior Vice President and Controller. Mr. Swain is a certified public accountant and a chartered global management accountant. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accountancy from the University of Mississippi. He also serves on the non-profit Boards of the Georgia Chapter of the American Alzheimer’s Association and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.
There are no family relationships between Mr. Swain and any directors or executive officers of the Company, and there are no related party transactions between Mr. Swain and the Company.
The compensatory terms of Mr. Swain’s employment agreement have not changed since the Company last disclosed them in connection with Mr. Swain’s appointment as interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company (effective January 1, 2026) on November 21, 2025.
In addition, Jesse C. Crawford, Sr., a member of the Board of Directors since 1986, has shared his intention to not stand for reelection at the 2026 Annual Shareholder Meeting to be held on May 14, 2026. In recognition of his many years of service the Board has appointed Mr. Crawford as an honorary member of the Board effective May 14, 2026.
A copy of the Company’s press release, dated March 23, 2026, announcing the appointment of Mr. Swain as President and CEO and Mr. Crawford’s retirement from the Board and appointment as an Honorary Director is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
| (a) | Exhibits. The following exhibit are filed with this Report: |
| Exhibit No. |
Description | |
| 99.1 | Press Release dated March 23, 2026 | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| CRAWFORD & COMPANY | |||
| By: | /s/ Tami E. Stevenson | ||
| Name: | Tami E. Stevenson | ||
| Title: | SVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | ||
Date: March 23, 2026
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Exhibit 99.1
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| Crawford & Company® | |
| 5335 Triangle Parkway NW | |
| Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CRAWFORD & COMPANY® NAMES W. BRUCE SWAIN JR. PRESIDENT & CEO
Announces Board Transition and Honors Jesse C. Crawford, Sr. for Four Decades of Service
ATLANTA (March 23, 2026) Crawford & Company® (NYSE: CRD-A and CRD-B), today announced that its board of directors has appointed W. Bruce Swain, Jr. as president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. The board’s decision follows Mr. Swain’s service as interim president and chief executive officer since January 1, 2026, during which time he worked closely with the leadership team to support the Company’s ongoing priorities. He will continue to serve as a member of Crawford’s executive leadership team and the company’s board of directors.
“Since stepping into the interim role, Bruce continued to demonstrate a clear understanding of the business and his strong connection with the leadership team,” said Jesse Crawford, Jr., non-executive board chair. “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.”
With more than three decades at Crawford, including 19 years as chief financial officer, Swain has been instrumental in shaping the company’s financial strategy and global operations. His deep understanding of Crawford’s business, combined with extensive industry knowledge and leadership experience, positions him well to guide the organization in the future.
“I am honored to continue leading Crawford as president and chief executive officer,” said Swain. “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.”
Crawford also announces that Jesse Crawford, Sr., a member of its board of directors since 1986 and a former board chair, has shared his intention not to stand for reelection at the 2026 Annual Shareholder Meeting (ASM) to be held on May 14, as part of a thoughtful and orderly board transition. In recognition of his remarkable contributions to the company’s growth, stability and culture, the board will appoint Mr. 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.
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| Crawford & Company® | |
| 5335 Triangle Parkway NW | |
| Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 |
Mr. Crawford represents the second generation of the Crawford family’s leadership. As the son of founder Jim Crawford, he has played a pivotal role in guiding the Company through multiple decades of expansion and transformation. Over his 40 years of 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.
“My father has been a dedicated steward of Crawford and our mission to serve our clients, their policyholders, and our colleagues,” said Jesse Crawford, Jr., chair of the board. “He has been a mentor to many, a stabilizing force through turbulent times, and a constant advocate for our colleagues around the world. I am honored to continue championing those same ideals and building on the foundation of ‘Top Quality, Promptly,’ that my grandfather laid out 85 years ago.”
President & CEO Bruce Swain added, “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.”
Crawford & Company will honor Mr. Crawford’s service during the Annual Shareholder Meeting, where his transition into his honorary role will take effect.
About Crawford®
Based in Atlanta, Crawford & Company (NYSE: CRD-A and CRD-B) is a leading global provider of claims management and outsourcing solutions to insurance companies and self-insured entities with an expansive network serving clients in more than 70 countries. The Company’s two classes of stock are substantially identical, except with respect to voting rights for the Class B Common Stock (CRD-B) and protections for the non-voting Class A Common Stock (CRD-A). More information is available at www.crawco.com.
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| Crawford & Company® | |
| 5335 Triangle Parkway NW | |
| Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 |
Tag: Crawford-Investor-News-and-Events, Crawford-Financial
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Media Contacts: mediarelations@us.crawco.com
| Lynn Cufley | Claire Barth | |
| +44 207 265 4067 | +1 404 558 6469 | |
| Lynn.Cufley@crawco.uk | Claire_Barth@us.crawco.com |
