Florida-headquartered insurance brokerage Brown & Brown, Inc. is acquiring the general insurance operating companies of Irish family-run business O’Leary Insurances Ltd (OLI) for an undisclosed sum.
With its workforce of more than 200 people in eight locations – including Cork, Dublin, Galway, and Waterford – OLI specialises in commercial and personal insurance broking for clients not only in Ireland but also overseas. The company was founded by Archie O’Leary in 1961.
“We are delighted to join the Brown & Brown group of companies and view this progression as a huge positive for both the O’Leary Insurances team and our valued customers,” commented Archie’s son Anthony, the majority owner of OLI who came onboard in 1979.
“We view Brown & Brown’s choice of an Irish company as their European gateway to be a strong endorsement of this country, and O’Leary Insurances are delighted to join an organisation whose culture and values are so similar to our own in so many respects.”
OLI, which will report to Brown & Brown president for retail Barrett Brown, will continue to operate from its existing offices under the leadership not only of Anthony but also of Diarmuid Nolan, Brian Lennon, Michael Tarpey, and Rossa Williams.
The younger O’Leary added: “We are particularly pleased to bring the strength and experience of one of the world’s largest insurance brokers to the Irish market and are confident that this will be of immense benefit to all in the years ahead.”
Brown, meanwhile, is “extremely pleased” and highlighted the similarities between the two organisations.
“Like Brown & Brown, O’Leary Insurances grew from a family-owned business to a leader in the Irish brokerage market by empowering its teammates to succeed,” noted the retail president.
“We are fully confident that we share with OLI the same culture of customer focus by providing unique risk solutions that meet each customer’s needs. I am excited about our future in Ireland and beyond with Anthony, Diarmuid, and the O’Leary Insurances team.”
