Gallagher Heath’s headquarters move to prove breath of fresh air

Gallagher Heath has hired the 20-strong former Oxygen Insurance team based in Leeds.

As a result of the move, Gallagher Heath now has 42 staff in Leeds, covering insurance broking, claims management, risk managers and employee benefits.

The enlarged operation will soon move to Oxygen’s premises in City Exchange, Leeds.

Gallagher Heath’s Yorkshire operation is currently based in East Parade, Leeds.

David Fryer, Gallagher Heath’s director and head of office in Leeds, said yesterday: “Our door is always open to teams or individuals who share our standards and can continue to add value to Gallagher Heath in Leeds.”

In July last year, it was announced that insurance adviser and broker Heath Lambert had started trading as Gallagher Heath, following its acquisition by Arthur J Gallagher & Co for an estimated £97m.

David Ross, the chief executive of Arthur J. Gallagher International, described the decision to hire the former Oxygen Insurance team as “one of the first markers we plan to put in the sand..this is the type of transaction we want.”

An Arthur J Gallagher spokesman said: “This adds breadth and depth to our mid-market specialisation and underscores Gallagher’s competency in the corporate risks market.”

The company can trace its roots back to the Victorian insurance pioneer Cuthbert Heath, who is credited with devising the first burglary policy.