Hub International has acquired the retail insurance brokerage business of Western Growers Insurance Services (WGIS), a division of Western Growers Association (WG).
The company highlighted that this latest acquisition aims to strengthen Hub’s presence in the agribusiness sector and support long-term growth for WGIS through increased scale and expanded services.
The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. WG was advised by MarshBerry in the transaction.
WGIS operates from 10 offices across California and Arizona, providing risk mitigation and management solutions tailored to the agribusiness and farm industries. The acquisition will integrate WGIS’s offerings with Hub’s specialty practices, enhancing Hub’s capabilities to serve clients in agriculture.
Darren Caesar (pictured above), CEO of Hub Central & Northern California (Hub CNC), noted the importance of California’s agricultural market.
"California is one of the largest agricultural markets in the country, and WGIS' depth of knowledge and experience will bolster our offerings to clients in this key industry,” Caesar said.
Through the acquisition, WGIS clients will gain access to a broader range of insurance solutions while retaining specialized support from professionals with expertise in agriculture and food industries.
Key WGIS personnel, including Jeff Gullickson, president of WGIS; Jodi Martin, director, employee benefits leader; Natalie Berend, senior director, P&C leader; and Ken Cooper, director, operations and risk strategy leader, will join Hub CNC.
Gullickson will also assume leadership of the regional Agribusiness practice while continuing as WGIS President.
WG president and CEO Dave Puglia commented that Hub’s resources and industry knowledge will allow WGIS to focus on core services.
“This transaction allows WGIS to focus on its core services while also providing industry-leading services and capabilities to our members and clients, both in employee benefits and commercial lines," he said.
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