Distinguished Taps Veteran Team for Major Marine Cargo Expansion

NEW YORK, NY – January 26, 2026 – Distinguished Programs, a national managing general agent (MGA) known for its focus on specialty insurance, has announced a significant expansion into the marine cargo sector. The company is launching a new Marine Cargo program to be led by industry veteran Ralph Salce, with underwriting activities scheduled to commence in the first half of 2026.

The initiative aims to provide a suite of comprehensive insurance solutions designed for the complexities of modern global trade, including coverage for worldwide transit exposures, stock throughput, and specialized logistics risks. This strategic move signals Distinguished Programs’ intent to capture a meaningful share of a dynamic and growing market by leveraging deep underwriting expertise.

A Strategy of Specialization and Talent

The launch of the Marine Cargo program is a clear continuation of Distinguished Programs’ established growth strategy: entering niche insurance markets by recruiting top-tier, experienced talent. The company operates under a “support with autonomy” model, a philosophy designed to empower its underwriting teams with the resources of a large platform while allowing them the independence to build best-in-class products.

“Expanding into Marine Cargo is a natural extension of our strategy to build specialty programs led by best-in-class talent,” said Steve Sitterly, the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Underwriting Officer at Distinguished. “Ralph and his team bring the experience and market credibility needed to make an immediate impact.”

This approach has been a consistent theme in the company's recent history. In the past few years, Distinguished has methodically broadened its portfolio with the launch of an Executive Lines program in 2023, an Inland Marine division, and a new Commercial Surety division announced for 2025. Each expansion was headlined by the appointment of seasoned leaders tasked with building out the new vertical. This latest move into marine cargo reinforces the MGA's commitment to diversification through specialized expertise.

Fueling this ambitious growth is significant new capital. In a move expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, White Mountains Insurance Group is set to acquire a majority stake in Distinguished Programs. The transaction is explicitly intended to support the company’s organic and inorganic growth, providing the financial backing for strategic initiatives like the new marine cargo unit. With over $550 million in annual premiums across its existing specialty programs, the firm is well-positioned to integrate and scale this new venture.

Assembling a Fleet of Expertise

At the heart of the new program is the formidable team assembled to lead it. Ralph Salce, who will serve as the program's president, is a widely respected figure in the ocean marine space with over 30 years of experience. His career includes leading the Ocean Marine division at Tokio Marine America, where he built a reputation for driving profitable growth and operational excellence.

The team Salce has brought with him represents a significant concentration of talent, collectively possessing more than a century of ocean marine underwriting and operational experience. This depth of knowledge is the program's core value proposition, promising brokers and their clients a level of insight that is critical in a complex risk environment.

“The marine cargo market continues to evolve, and there is a clear need for experienced underwriting leadership,” Salce stated. “We are intentionally building a program that combines proven expertise, strong relationships and a disciplined underwriting approach. Distinguished provides the platform and support to do that the right way.”

Joining Salce are several other highly experienced professionals:

• Derek Gibbons brings over two decades of underwriting experience, having previously managed a large portfolio of ocean cargo and inland marine business in the Northeast.
• Ralph Santoro contributes an extraordinary 50 years of experience in ocean cargo management and risk management, with a career spanning leadership roles at major carriers like AIG, Allianz, and Hanover before a brief retirement.
• John Murillo, with 18 years in the field, is known for his strong broker relationships, particularly in the South Florida market, and his focus on underwriting stability.
• Jose Schloessman, a graduate of the California Maritime Academy, adds over a decade of production underwriting experience on the West Coast, fortified by hands-on knowledge of port and terminal operations.

This deliberate assembly of talent from across key U.S. markets positions the program to offer nuanced, geographically relevant service and underwriting from its inception.

Navigating a Dynamic Global Market

Distinguished Programs is entering the marine cargo market at a time of both opportunity and volatility. The sector, valued at nearly $20 billion in 2022, is projected to grow to almost $30 billion by 2032. This growth is driven by the indispensable role of shipping in global trade, the increasing complexity of supply chains, and rising cargo values. However, the landscape is fraught with challenges.

Geopolitical instability, shifting war risk exposures, and high-profile vessel losses have injected a note of caution across the marine insurance sector. At the same time, an influx of new capacity from a growing number of MGAs has intensified competition and put pressure on premium rates. Insurers are also grappling with the effects of inflation on claims costs and the transformative impact of digitalization, which is reshaping everything from underwriting to risk monitoring.

It is precisely this complex environment that creates an opening for an expert-led program. As supply chains become more fragmented and risks more unpredictable, the demand for sophisticated underwriting and risk management advice grows. The shift away from traditional blanket policies toward dynamic, data-driven insurance solutions requires a deep understanding of maritime risk that only seasoned professionals can provide. Distinguished is betting that the combined expertise of Salce’s team will be a crucial differentiator for brokers and insureds navigating these turbulent waters.

The program is designed to complement the MGA’s existing portfolio of specialized products, which includes coverage for fine art and collectibles, environmental risks, real estate, community associations, hotels, and inland marine. By adding marine cargo, Distinguished not only diversifies its revenue streams but also creates synergistic opportunities, offering its network of brokers a more holistic suite of solutions for clients with complex property and transit risks. With the team in place and the strategy defined, the program is charting a clear course for its 2026 launch.