By Mike Harris Friday, February 21st, 2025

Three months after they joined forces, the Hub International Limited/Western Growers Insurance Services partnership is blooming.

With offices throughout California, including the Central Coast, Hub announced in November that it had acquired the retail insurance brokerage business of the Western Growers Association.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Chicago, Hub is a global insurance brokerage and financial services firm with more than 18,000 employees throughout North America.

Irvine-based Western Growers represents family farmers in California, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. 

The acquisition will enhance Hub’s services in the agribusiness industry and better position Western Growers Insurance Services for long-term growth through expanded scale and capabilities, executives of the two companies said.

“It’s gone better than expected,” Darren Caesar, CEO of Hub Central & Northern California, with offices in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Ventura and Westlake Village, told the Business Times Feb. 6.

“I think a cornerstone of this deal was working with like-minded people who were focused on benefiting the agricultural industry and when we have those synergies, we’re able to do really good things for our clients,” Caesar said.

Jeff Gullickson, president of Western Growers Insurance Services, with 10 offices in California and Arizona, including one in Oxnard, agreed that the two companies are a good fit.

“We looked very carefully at different potential partners and selected Hub out of the others because of number one, their commitment to the ag and food industry,” he said.

“That was very important to the Western Growers Association,” he said.

WGIS provides full-service risk mitigation and management solutions, including insurance products and employee benefits, among them a medical plan designed for agricultural workers, Gullickson said.

Also important to the insurance services firm was Hub’s distribution capabilities, which “will help us reach more of our members working with a broader range of brokers in the agriculture and food industries,” he said.

“We wanted to boost our distribution, give it a real shot in the arm,” Gullickson said. “And that’s one of the things that Hub brought to the table.”

The partnership has already paid dividends, he said.

Western Growers Insurance Services wrote more new business in the month of January than it had in any previous January going back about 10 years, Gullickson said. 

Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers, said that not only does Hub offer expanded scale and capabilities for WGIS, but it also has a deep understanding of the agriculture industry. 

“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,” Puglia said in a press release.

WGIS’ focus on the agriculture and farm industries supports Hub’s specialty practices by complementing and strengthening its existing capabilities, the two companies said.

“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 in a press release.

As a result of the transaction, WGIS’ current clients will gain access to a wider variety of insurance solutions, while maintaining a strong connection with best-in-class regional expertise in the agriculture and food space, he said.

As part of the acquisition, Gullickson and other WGIS executives have joined Hub Central & Northern California.

Gullickson has become head of the agribusiness practice in the region and continues to serve as WGIS president.

Other WGIS officials who have joined Hub CNC include Jodi Martin, director, and employee benefits leader; Natalie Berend, senior director, and P&C leader; and Ken Cooper, director, operations & risk strategy leader.

Investment banker MarshBerry served as an advisor to Western Growers in the transaction.

Hub International on Feb. 11 announced the launch of HUB Private Client Equine Risk Advisory Services.

The new offering supports high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients to address the unique risks of equine owners, riders, trainers, and enthusiasts.

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