C3 Risk & Insurance Services just made a bold move in the employee benefits arms race—and it’s not a subtle one. The San Diego-based specialty insurance brokerage has brought on seasoned executive Mike Bialik to lead its Employee Benefits Division, signaling a shift from regional contender to national heavyweight.
Bialik’s arrival marks a pivotal inflection point for C3, which has been quietly building the foundation of its benefits practice over the last few years. Now, with the infrastructure in place and the right talent leading the charge, C3 is positioning itself to punch well above its weight in an increasingly competitive market.
Veteran Leadership with a Playbook for Growth
Bialik isn’t just another hire—he’s a known quantity in the benefits world. Before joining C3, he served as Area President of Employee Benefits at a top publicly traded firm, overseeing a 60-person team that managed over 300 client relationships. It’s a résumé that blends scale with substance, and one that’s expected to pay dividends fast.
“Mike’s experience and reputation in the industry is going to enable C3 to continue attracting top talent,” said Jamie Reid, Chairman of C3. “We knew Mike was our guy.”
The sentiment isn’t just internal PR. With healthcare costs spiraling and many companies grappling with how to maintain meaningful benefits without going broke, Bialik’s challenge is clear—and so is the opportunity.
Why This Matters: Innovation in a Stagnant Sector
Let’s face it: the employee benefits industry isn’t known for its agility. Large firms often move at glacial speeds, bogged down by legacy systems and inflexible corporate policies. C3, by contrast, is still nimble—entrepreneurial even. And that’s exactly what lured Bialik to make the jump.
“What excites me most about employee benefits is the opportunity to be better,” Bialik said. “With costs rising, businesses are struggling to offer meaningful benefits. We’re in a position to lead with innovation and client-focused strategies.”
In other words: the old playbook isn’t cutting it anymore. Bialik sees this as a moment to rethink not just how benefits are delivered, but how teams are built and careers are developed. His philosophy of “growing is caring” extends beyond client relationships to his internal team—he’s aiming to build a culture that scales with purpose.
Implications: A Broader Push into National Markets
C3 isn’t just beefing up its benefits team; it’s telegraphing a broader ambition. While many boutique firms are content to stay regional, C3 is going after a national footprint. And in an industry where consolidation is the norm, that kind of organic expansion—driven by leadership and not M&A—is rare.
Bialik plans to scale the division aggressively over the next five to seven years, and given his track record, it’s a credible timeline. The benefits market is ripe for disruption, especially as HR departments seek more customized, cost-effective solutions than what the big-box brokers typically offer.
C3 Risk & Insurance isn’t just playing defense in a high-cost, low-margin space—it’s going on the offensive. By hiring Mike Bialik, the firm has put itself in a prime position to challenge national players and bring some much-needed agility and innovation to employee benefits.
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Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Public relations, investor relations, public policy and marketing professionals rely on Business Wire for secure and accurate distribution of market-moving news and multimedia. Founded in 1961, Business Wire is a trusted source for news organizations, journalists, investment professionals and regulatory authorities, delivering news directly into editorial systems and leading online news sources via its multi-patented NX network. Business Wire’s global newsrooms are available to meet the needs of communications professionals and news media worldwide.
