Further
During the 1980s and 1990s, the company faced significant competitive pressures within the crowded domestic insurance market in the United States. [7]
From 1990 through 2000, the company reported double-digit growth in all but three years, indicating a period of substantial expansion. [7]
In 2000, Gallagher acquired 16 smaller insurance brokerages, which expanded its presence across the United States, eventually leading to operations in all 50 states. [7]
The company began international expansion in 2002 with entry into India and Asia. [7]
The history and values of the firm were documented by Robert E. Gallagher and Alison Kittrell in their 2005 publication, The Gallagher Way, released jointly by Marketing Counsel and iUniverse. [8]
On February 17, 2010, Gallagher has acquired Securitas Re, a reinsurance brokerage firm based in São Paulo, Brazil, from Estater Gestão de Investimentos Ltda. The financial terms of the acquisition were not publicly disclosed. Following the acquisition, the Brazilian operation began conducting business internationally as Gallagher Brazil, operating as a licensed facultative reinsurance broker. The entity maintained a focus on the petrochemical, energy, and construction industries, providing property/casualty, surety, construction, and directors and officers (D&O) insurance coverages while also assisting Brazilian ceding companies in securing facultative reinsurance support. [9]
In 2011, Gallagher established operations in Singapore. [7]
In December 2013, the company purchased Norwegian specialty insurance broker Bergvall Marine AS. [7]
The company expanded to Australia in 2014. [7]
In July 2015, Gallagher was ranked third in Best's Review's listing of the world's largest brokerage firms. [10]
In 2016, Gallagher acquired an 85% stake in Swedish specialist insurance and reinsurance broker Brim AB, with company statements indicating that Scandinavia represented a strategic area for development. [7]
In June 2016, Gallagher was announced as a first-time entrant to the Fortune 500. The company ranked 471st on the list for that year, reflecting its position among the largest U.S. corporations by revenue. [11] This marked the beginning of its inclusion in the annual ranking, which Fortune has continued to recognize the firm in subsequent years. The entry followed a period of growth that positioned the company as one of the leading insurance brokerage and risk management services providers globally. [12] As of September 2, 2025, Gallagher is ranked 367th on the list. [13]
On August 18, 2017, Gallagher acquired Ballard Benefit Works, a Michigan-based employee benefits brokerage. Ballard Benefit Works was founded in 2009 by Justin Spewock and provides employee-benefit and healthcare finance brokerage services. The company offers consulting services to public, private, and not-for-profit clients, with primary operations in Michigan, Washington, D.C., and Florida. Following the acquisition, Spewock and his employees continued to operate the business under the leadership of John Neumaier, who serves as Gallagher's head of Great Lakes employee benefits consulting and brokerage operations. [14] [15]
On February 12, 2020, Gallagher announced the acquisition of Affiliated Benefit Consultants, Inc., a benefits consulting firm headquartered in Oakbrook, Illinois. Founded in 1986, Affiliated Benefit Consultants provided comprehensive employee benefits consulting services to clients across the United States. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. [16]
On September 26, 2020, Gallagher reported a ransomware incident affecting certain internal systems. In response to the security event, the company implemented precautionary measures including taking all global systems offline, initiating response protocols, launching an investigation, engaging external cybersecurity professionals, and activating business continuity plans to minimize disruption to customers. By September 28, 2020, the company indicated that it had restarted or was in the process of restarting most of its business systems. At that time, Gallagher stated that based on available information, it did not anticipate the incident would have a material impact on its business operations, financial condition, or overall performance. [17]
On February 23, 2021, Gallagher was included in Ethisphere's list of World's Most Ethical Companies for the tenth consecutive year. The firm, which operates as an insurance brokerage, risk management, and consulting services company, was the only insurance broker among the honorees. The recognition was determined through Ethisphere's assessment process, which evaluates organizations based on culture, environmental and social practices, ethics and compliance activities, governance, diversity, and value chain initiatives. [18] [19]
In July 2022, Gallagher completed the acquisition of Four Corners Group Inc., an executive search firm based in Toronto, Canada. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2007, Four Corners Group operated as an executive search practice serving clients across Canada and the United States in various industries including business services, technology, consumer goods, manufacturing, retail, supply chain, real estate, financial services, healthcare, and professional services sectors. Following the acquisition, Kelly Farrell and her team continued operations from their existing location under the supervision of Melanie Jeannotte, who served as CEO of Gallagher's Benefit and HR Consulting Division in Canada. J. Patrick Gallagher Jr., chairman and CEO of Gallagher, stated the acquisition would expand the company's global talent and leadership advisory services. [20]
On April 3, 2023, Gallagher completed its acquisition of BCHR Holdings, L.P., operating as Buck, an organization specializing in human resources, pension, and employee benefits consulting services. The transaction, initially announced in December 2022 and valued at $660 million, represented Gallagher's largest acquisition in the human resources and benefits sector to that date. Buck maintained approximately 2,300 employees across operations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Following the acquisition, Buck's operations were integrated under William F. Ziebell, who leads Gallagher's employee benefits consulting and brokerage division. The combined entity expanded capabilities in retirement services, benefits consulting, administration, and technology solutions. [21] [22]
On September 21, 2023, Gallagher entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Eastern Insurance Group, LLC, a Massachusetts-based insurance provider that operates as a subsidiary of Eastern Bank. Eastern Insurance specializes in commercial property and casualty insurance, personal lines products, and employee benefits consulting services for clients across the Northeastern United States. Under the terms of the agreement, Gallagher agreed to purchase the assets of Eastern Insurance for $510 million, net of specified seller-funded expenses. Following the acquisition, Tim Lodge and the Eastern Insurance team were expected to remain at their current location under the leadership of Patrick Kennedy, who heads Gallagher's Northeast region retail property/casualty brokerage operations, and John Neumaier, who leads Gallagher's East region employee benefits consulting and brokerage operations. [23]
In October 2023, Gallagher acquired Cadence Bank's insurance brokerage unit for $904 million, as announced on October 24, 2023. The transaction represented Cadence Bank's strategic move to narrow its business focus and redeploy capital toward its core banking operations. [24]
On October 19, 2025, Gallagher announced the acquisition of Meadowbrook Insurance Agency, a retail insurance broker headquartered in Southfield, Michigan. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Meadowbrook Insurance Agency operated as a retail insurance broker providing property and casualty insurance and group benefits services to clients in Michigan and Florida. As part of the acquisition, Gallagher also acquired The Protection Center, an affiliated company also based in Michigan. [25] [26]
On December 9, 2024, Gallagher announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire AssuredPartners from private equity firm GTCR for a gross consideration of $13.45 billion. The transaction was characterized as the largest sale of a U.S. insurance broker to a strategic acquirer in the history of the industry. After adjustments for tax benefits and anticipated operational synergies, the net consideration was estimated at approximately $12.45 billion. The acquisition was to be financed through a combination of long-term debt, short-term borrowings, free cash, and common equity. [27] [28]
On August 18, 2025, Gallagher completed its acquisition of AssuredPartners, a U.S. insurance broker. The transaction, valued at $13.45 billion, represented the largest sale of a U.S. insurance broker to a strategic acquirer in industry history. [29] [30]
US$11.55 billion (2024)