Gallagher has bought independent pensions and benefits communications consultancy Anthony Hodges Consulting (AHC), in a move that makes it one of the world’s largest employee communications companies.
Gallagher says the acquisition fits with its strategy to partner with entrepreneurial and specialist companies to help corporate clients make working life a better experience for employees.
Founded in 1996, AHC is a private, family-run company with close to 100 employees and offices in the UK, USA and Australia. The consultancy aims to help some of the world’s largest brands to simplify complex information in order to engage with their people and deliver positive measurable outcomes.
The move is part of incoming Gallagher Employee Benefits Consulting Division, UK CEO Nick Burns’ vision of offering employers an organisational wellbeing proposition that focuses on the entirety of CEO, FD, non-exec and HR challenges, of which benefits form a part.
Burns says: “This acquisition supports our Gallagher Better Works offering for clients, especially around organisational wellbeing, where powerful employee communications are so effective for talent attraction and retention.
“We have always greatly admired AHC’s work and professionalism. They share our values of integrity, partnership and understanding and are a perfect fit for Gallagher in terms of people talent, solutions and creative innovation. Together we will expand our footprint in the UK, USA and Australia and route to market – strengthening existing specialisms, maximising client choice and working together on our vision. We’re proud to officially welcome them to the team.”
AHC CEO Roger Hattam says: “We wanted a long-term global partner that would afford access to an even greater array of solutions, expertise and specialist capabilities for our clients, while also expanding personal and professional opportunities for our employees. We’re very excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.”
AHC chairman Tony Hodges says: “It was really important to us that we found a partner where we could maintain the family feel that our people and clients so value. It soon became clear in our discussions with Gallagher that we have found this, and that they also share our values of ‘doing the right thing’ for our clients, colleagues and the community. This is what sealed the deal for us.”