Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Gallagher) is an American insurance brokerage and risk management services company based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The company provides insurance brokerage services (87% of 2025 revenues) and risk management services (13% of 2025 revenues), the latter of which primarily includes the processing of workers compensation and automobile insurance claims through the company's adjusters.
The company is ranked 367th on the Fortune 500 and 192nd on the Forbes Global 2000.
Founded in 1927, the company ranks among the world's largest insurance brokers.
Contents
History
Early years
Arthur J. Gallagher was established in 1927 as an insurance agency in Chicago by Arthur Gallagher.
In 1938, Gallagher contributed to the development of The Hartford Group’s Retrospective Rating Program, a plan designed to provide financial incentives to policyholders who maintained lower loss records. He also authored what is noted as Chicago’s first large-deductible fire insurance policy, issued to Bowman Dairy Co. At the time, both initiatives were regarded as innovative within the insurance industry.
After World War II, in 1945, Arthur Gallagher’s three sons—Jim, Bob, and John—joined the business.
In 1950, the company was formally incorporated, and each of the three sons was granted an equity stake in the firm.
1980s-present
During the 1980s and 1990s, the company faced significant competitive pressures within the crowded domestic insurance market in the United States.
From 1990 through 2000, the company reported double-digit growth in all but three years, indicating a period of substantial expansion.
In 2000, Gallagher acquired 16 smaller insurance brokerages, which expanded its presence across the United States, eventually leading to operations in all 50 states.
The company began international expansion in 2002 with entry into India and Asia.
In February 2010, Gallagher acquired Securitas Re, a reinsurance brokerage firm based in São Paulo, Brazil, from Estater Gestão de Investimentos Ltda.
In March 2010, Gallagher announced an agreement to acquire all of the insurance brokerage operations of FirstCity Partnership, a London-based firm.
In 2011, Gallagher established operations in Singapore.
In December 2013, Gallagher acquired Bergvall Marine, an insurance brokerage firm based in Oslo, Norway.
The company expanded to Australia in 2014.
In December 2014, Gallagher announced the expansion of its brand presence in Australia through the rebranding of OAMPS Insurance Brokers, following its acquisition of the firm in June of the same year.
In November 2015, Gallagher announced the acquisition of insurance brokers Christie Phoenix (Victoria) and its affiliate Discovery Insurance Services, both based in Victoria, British Columbia.
In media
Robert E. Gallagher and Alison Kittrell, The Gallagher Way, released jointly by Marketing Counsel and iUniverse in 2005.