Founded on ethics.
Focused on the future.

1920s

1927

Arthur Gallagher opens an insurance agency in Chicago.

1930s

1933

Mabel Pottinger becomes the first Gallagher employee. She helps shape the company for the next 41 years.

1938

Gallagher helped create The Hartford Group’s groundbreaking Retrospective Rating Program, which rewarded customers who minimized their losses. Gallagher also wrote Chicago’s first large-deductible fire policy for Bowman Dairy Co. Both concepts were considered radical ideas in that era, and Gallagher was at the forefront.

1940s

1945

Following World War II, Arthur Gallagher's three sons - Jim, Bob and John, join the firm.

1950s

1950

Art decided to incorporate the company, giving each of his sons an equity interest.

1957

Gallagher landed its largest client to date — Chicago’s Beatrice Foods Co. This accomplishment cast Gallagher in the limelight, as it bested Beatrice’s incumbent insurance broker, then the largest broker in the U.S.

1960s

1962

Gallagher partnered with Sterling Bassett to form a new claims management subsidiary, Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc., to provide services to self-insured clients. This changed the landscape of commercial insurance.

1965

The Bishop’s Plan in 1965 was developed by Gallagher.

The ‘60s also brought Gallagher’s earliest forays into the life insurance and benefits business.

1970s

1972 - 74

The ’70s were a period of rapid growth. Starting in Bermuda in 1972, Arthur J Gallagher & Co opened, and was later incorporated in 1975, providing access to many offshore alternative markets.

In 1974, Gallagher, Hinton & Vereker Ltd. was co-founded in London. Gallagher later purchased the remaining interest.

1975 - 76

In 1975, Gallagher’s employee benefits division wrote Gallagher’s first self-funded employee benefits plan. By 1976, Gallagher’s revenues had topped $10 million and by 1978, they had more than doubled to $25 million.

1980s

1984

Gallagher, Hinton & Vereker became the first subsidiary of a U.S. broker to be accepted as a Lloyd’s broker in its own right. Gallagher went public with an initial common stock offering.

1987 - 88

Gallagher was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “AJG.” Industry publications often highlighted Gallagher as one of the fastest-growing insurance brokers.

In 1988, Gallagher also finalized a major step in the evolution of Gallagher Bassett. The decision was made to “unbundle” and market GB’s services to non-Gallagher brokers, allowing them to be purchased on a stand-alone basis.

1990s

1990

CEO Bob Gallagher was named Chairman of the Board, and his brother, John, was named Vice Chairman. John’s son, J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., became President in 1990 and CEO in 1995.

1997 - 99

Gallagher formed a domestic wholesale brokerage division, Risk Placement Services, Inc., along with establishing a presence in Australia. With revenues more than $500 million, Gallagher was recognized by Business Insurance magazine as the world’s fourth-largest broker.

2000s

2002 - 05

In 2002, Gallagher celebrated its 75th anniversary and hit $1 billion in revenue. It also was recognized by Fortune magazine among the Fortune 1000 Largest Companies. Gallagher was named to Forbes magazine’s Platinum 400 List of Best Big Companies in America for 2004 and 2005.

2006

J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr. was appointed Chairman of the Board.

2010s

2010

Gallagher completed nearly 400 acquisitions from Jan. 1, 2010 through Dec. 31, 2018, which fueled strong revenue growth and significant international expansion. 34 percent of Gallagher’s Brokerage revenues and 16 percent of Gallagher’s Risk Management revenues were generated outside of the U.S.

2017 - 19

Gallagher partners with Premiership Rugby, Indycar Racing and the Chicago Cubs.

2018

Forbes Magazine names Gallagher one of the World's Best Employers - the only insurance brokerage on the list.

2012 - 22

Gallagher recognized by Ethisphere Institute as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies®.

Founded on ethics.
Focused on the future.