Corgi Insurance Appoints Josh LaRiccia as Head of Distribution to Scale AI-Native Commercial Insurance

Corgi Insurance has appointed Josh LaRiccia as Head of Distribution, a move designed to scale the AI-native carrier’s footprint across the United States. By securing a leader with deep experience in building agency networks, the company is signaling a strategic shift toward aggressive expansion within the MGA, wholesale, and retail broker channels.

What was announced

Josh LaRiccia has joined Corgi Insurance to lead the company’s national distribution strategy. In this capacity, he is responsible for overseeing partner development and market expansion, with a specific focus on identifying and onboarding managing general agents (MGAs), wholesalers, and national retail partners. The role is designed to align these distribution partners with Corgi’s specific underwriting appetite and broader growth objectives.

LaRiccia transitions to Corgi from First Insurance & Risk Management, a firm he co-founded. During his four-year tenure there, he was responsible for building distribution operations that eventually supported 15,000 users and 13,000 agencies. This background in developing relationships with agents and industry partners is central to his new mandate at Corgi, where he will also represent the carrier at industry conferences and events to strengthen its presence in the commercial insurance community.

Beyond external relationship management, LaRiccia will act as a bridge between the market and Corgi’s internal teams. He is tasked with working alongside the carrier’s underwriting and product departments to identify underserved market segments and develop new insurance programs. This feedback loop is intended to ensure that partner insights directly inform the company’s ongoing product development process as it expands its commercial insurance infrastructure and underwriting capabilities.

The companies involved

Corgi Insurance is an AI-native, full-stack commercial insurance carrier. Unlike many insurtech firms that operate as managing general agents (MGAs) on behalf of traditional insurers, Corgi maintains its own insurance infrastructure, allowing it to manage the entire lifecycle of a policy from underwriting to claims. The company’s model relies on combining AI-driven technology with experienced insurance leadership to streamline commercial coverage for businesses and their brokers.

Under the leadership of Co-Founder and CEO Nico Laqua, the company has positioned itself as a technology-forward alternative to legacy carriers. By maintaining a full-stack status, Corgi retains control over its pricing models and risk appetite, which it leverages to enter diverse commercial segments. The firm has become a frequent subject of industry analysis, with its corporate trajectory recently recognized in major startup rankings, reflecting its status as an emerging player in the North American commercial lines market.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has followed Corgi Insurance’s rapid expansion into specialized commercial lines over the past year. In late 2026, the company made a significant move into the logistics space, as reported in Corgi Insurance Enters $100 Billion Commercial Auto Market with AI-Driven Coverage. This followed the launch of specialized professional liability products, detailed in Corgi Insurance Launches AI-Native Medical Malpractice Coverage for Healthcare Practices.

The carrier’s growth has also been marked by high-profile marketing and industry recognition. FF News covered their sports-centric distribution strategy in Corgi Insurance Scores Three-Year Partnership with United Premier Soccer League. Additionally, the company’s market momentum was highlighted when Corgi Insurance Ranks No. 16 on LinkedIn’s 2026 Top Startups List, underscoring its reputation as a significant employer and innovator within the insurtech sector.

What this means from an insurtech perspective

This appointment addresses the "last mile" challenge that many AI-native carriers face: the reality that complex commercial insurance is still a relationship-driven business. While Corgi’s AI-driven underwriting provides a technical edge in speed and pricing accuracy, it requires a robust distribution network to access the high-quality risks held by traditional brokers and MGAs. By hiring a distribution lead with a proven track record of onboarding thousands of agencies, Corgi is moving to compete directly with incumbent carriers on their own turf. This puts pressure on legacy insurers who lack the same level of automated infrastructure, as Corgi attempts to offer brokers the rare combination of technological efficiency and traditional relationship management.