Gallagher acquires Chicago firm

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has announced the acquisition of ROC Group, an employee communication agency based in Chicago. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Established in 1998, ROC Group specializes in human resources and enterprise change solutions. It serves clients across the US with Jan Burnham as its founder and CEO.

Following the acquisition, Burnham and her team will become part of the Gallagher employee benefits consulting and brokerage operations, directed by global managing director for employee experience and communication practice Ben Reynolds.

“ROC Group is a leading employee communication firm with an outstanding culture, and their products and services complement our existing benefits and HR offerings,” said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Gallagher chairman, president, and CEO. “I am delighted to welcome Jan and her associates to Gallagher.”

Gallagher announced the acquisition of ROC Group near the end of 2022. The past year saw the global insurance brokerage acquire several other firms both in and out of the US, including Brazilian retail broker Interbrok Group and HR benefits provider Buck. The transaction involving Buck, in particular, was identified as one of the company’s largest HR benefits acquisitions at a value of $660 million.

Other acquisitions announced by Gallagher in 2022 include California-based Bulen & Associates, as well as North Carolina-based PIUS Limited and its affiliate, Newlight Capital.