AuguryAfore Moves Into Virginia With Resolve Insurance Buy and a New Marine Practice Chief
This article was written by the Augury Times
Acquisition and appointment put Afore in a stronger Virginia and Mid‑Atlantic position
Afore said this week it has acquired Resolve Insurance, a Virginia-based agency, and appointed Christopher G. Burns as Senior Vice President and National Marine Practice Leader. The deal brings Resolve’s team and local client relationships onto Afore’s national distribution platform. Company statements say the move immediately strengthens Afore’s presence in Virginia and gives it a clearer foothold across the broader Mid‑Atlantic coast.
Burns will lead Afore’s national marine practice, responsible for product strategy, broker support and relationships with carriers that underwrite marine risks. The companies did not disclose financial terms. Afore said Resolve’s staff and day-to-day operations will continue as the two teams begin integration.
How Resolve strengthens Afore’s reach and product mix
The acquisition is a straightforward expansion play. Resolve brings local market knowledge, existing broker and customer ties in Virginia, and experience placing marine and specialty commercial risks. For Afore, that adds depth to its distribution network where it had less presence, and it gives the firm access to accounts that need marine coverage — things like marinas, commercial boat operators, and related coastal businesses.
Company materials describe the move as a way to broaden Afore’s product shelf for brokers in the region and to speed cover placements by combining Resolve’s local relationships with Afore’s larger carrier panel and technology. The release said operational integration will lean on Afore’s platform for back-office tasks such as policy administration and reporting, while keeping Resolve’s client service teams in place to preserve local continuity.
No purchase price or detailed financials were shared in the announcement. The companies framed the deal as bolt-on growth rather than a major strategic pivot.
Christopher G. Burns: what his role tells you about priorities
Christopher G. Burns joins Afore as Senior Vice President and National Marine Practice Leader. In that role he will coordinate Afore’s marine insurance offerings, work with carrier partners on product design and pricing, and train or support brokers across the company’s footprint who sell marine coverages.
His appointment signals that Afore sees marine insurance as a clear area for growth and wants a single leader responsible for building scale and consistency. The company emphasized Burns’ long experience in marine lines and risk distribution, saying he will focus on expanding the range of products available to brokers and improving how marine business is placed and serviced.
What clients and brokers should expect after the change
For Resolve’s existing clients, the announcement stresses continuity: local service teams and policy contacts should remain the same initially. At the same time, clients are likely to gain access to a wider set of insurance carriers and products through Afore’s platform, which could make it easier to find specialized marine coverages or tailored commercial policies.
Brokers who worked with Resolve should see a larger panel of markets and potentially faster placement tools, plus additional training or product support driven by the new national marine leader. The release did not flag immediate staffing cuts; instead, it presented the deal as a way to add resources for agents and insureds in the region.
Where this sits in the wider regional insurance picture
Afore is one of a number of national distribution firms that have been growing by acquiring regional agencies. Those deals let national firms add local book value, niche expertise and direct broker relationships without building those networks from scratch.
Resolve is a smaller, regionally focused agency whose business mix includes marine and commercial lines tied to coastal operations. Deals like this fit a broader pattern: national distributors buying local agencies to win scale in specific product areas and geographies. That makes it easier to negotiate with carriers and to invest in systems that smooth sales and servicing across many brokers.
Next steps reporters and clients should watch
According to the announcement, the integration begins immediately with Resolve joining Afore’s operating platform. The companies said they will communicate directly with clients and brokers about any logistical changes. Financial terms were not disclosed in the release.
Observers and reporters should watch for any future disclosures of purchase price or deal structure, regulatory filings if required, and updates on client retention and staff roles as integration proceeds. The companies provided media contacts in their release for follow-up questions and said they will share more detail on timing and operational changes as the integration unfolds.
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