Home :: About Us :: Executive Team About Us Executive Management Team J. Patrick Gallagher Jr. Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr. began his career with Gallagher as an intern in 1972, started working for the company full time in 1974 as a Production Account Executive and was promoted to Vice President-Operations in 1985. He was elected to the Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Board of Directors in 1986. In 1990, he was named President and Chief Operating Officer and, in 1995, was appointed Chief Executive Officer by the Board of Directors. In 2006 he was appointed Chairman of the Board. Mr. Gallagher joined the Board of Trustees of the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters in 2003, and serves on the Board of Founding Directors of the International Insurance Foundation and the Board of Directors of InnerWorkings, Inc. In addition, he serves on the Advisory Council of Boys Hope/Girls Hope and the Board of Advisors for Catholic Charities, and is a member of The Economic Club of Chicago, the Executives Club of Chicago and the Commercial Club of Chicago. In 2007, Mr. Gallagher was granted Freedom of the City of London by the city’s Lord Mayor in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Lloyd’s insurance market and for his support of the Gallagher Lifelong Learning scholarships. In 2009, he was honored by the Spencer Educational Foundation (which is affiliated with the Risk and Insurance Management Society) for his ongoing support of the Foundation. And in 2013, he was named Insurance Broking CEO of the Year by Reactions Magazine. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Cornell University. Walter D. Bay General Counsel and Secretary Walter D. Bay joined Gallagher in 2007. As General Counsel, he manages the global legal team and advises senior management and the company's Board of Directors on a wide range of issues, including regulatory and legal compliance, securities law, corporate governance, litigation, and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Bay has more than 20 years of legal and business experience. He began his career at Chase Manhattan Bank. After attending law school, he joined Harter, Secrest & Emery LLP, where he became a partner in the law firm’s Corporate Department. In 2000, he joined GE Capital Services, first as its Mergers & Acquisitions Counsel and then as General Counsel for GE Commercial Distribution Finance. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the College of Wooster and a Juris Doctorate, with honors, from the George Washington University National Law Center. James W. Durkin Jr. President, Employee Benefit Consulting and Brokerage James W. Durkin, Jr. joined Gallagher as an Employee Benefits Account Executive in 1976. He assumed responsibility for the Employee Benefits sales team in Chicago in 1982 and was promoted to President of Gallagher’s Benefit Consulting and Brokerage operations in 1985. Mr. Durkin began his career with the Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford, Conn., as a Field Representative in the Group Division. He is actively involved with Notre Dame College Prep, a private Catholic boys’ high school in Niles, Ill., and currently sits on the school’s President’s Advisory Council. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind. Thomas J. Gallagher Chairman, International Brokerage Thomas J. Gallagher joined Gallagher in 1980 as a producer after participating in the company's summer internship program for two years. He was promoted to Area President of the Milwaukee office in 1987, and in 1996 was named President of the San Francisco Construction office. Tom helped establish Gallagher Construction Services, serving as Niche Managing Director from 1997 to 2002. After working in the field for 15 years, Tom returned to Itasca in 2002 to lead the Brokerage Services Division’s Midwest Region. He was appointed to lead the International Brokerage operations in January 2011. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Southern California. James S. Gault President, Retail Property/Casualty and International Brokerage James S. Gault joined Gallagher in 1974 as a commercial property/casualty producer after participating in the company’s summer internship program during his college years. In 1981, he was promoted to Area Vice President of the Chicago Branch, responsible for building a Commercial Sales Unit. Over the ensuing two decades, he was promoted to a succession of branch, regional and divisional management positions. In 2001, he was named Executive Vice President and, one year later, he was named President of Retail Property/Casualty Brokerage. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Washington University, St. Louis. Douglas K. Howell Chief Financial Officer Douglas K. Howell joined Gallagher in 2003 as Chief Financial Officer. He oversees the company’s financial, investment, information technology and administrative functions, and represents Gallagher in dealings with global investment analysts, institutional shareholders and prospective investors. He also leads many operational, quality and productivity initiatives. Mr. Howell came to Gallagher with more than 20 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry, including serving as CFO of both public and private insurance companies. He began his career with the public accounting and consulting firms now known as PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG. In the December/January issue of Institutional Investor magazine, Mr. Howell was named one of America’s Best CFOs, ranking first place in the Insurance sector by sell-side analysts. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Iowa State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago. He is additionally a Certified Public Accountant. Scott R. Hudson President and Chief Executive Officer, Risk Management Services Scott R. Hudson joined Gallagher in 2010 as President of its global Risk Management Services operations. Mr. Hudson came to Gallagher with more than 25 years of experience as a business consultant specializing in the insurance and financial services industries. He began his consulting career with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) and later held key leadership positions with Information Consulting Group; McKinsey & Company, Inc.; Renaissance Worldwide, Inc.; and, most recently, as Insurance Practice Director for Bridge Strategy Group. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Iowa State University and is a Certified Public Accountant. Susan E. McGrath Chief Human Resources Officer Susan E. McGrath joined Gallagher in 2007. She is responsible for developing a comprehensive human resources and organizational strategy to address key margin improvement initiatives and drive the development of a robust, performance-based culture. Ms. McGrath came to Gallagher with 16 years of human resources experience, most recently as Vice President of Human Resources for General Electric's Commercial Distribution Finance business. Prior to that, she was Vice President of Human Resources for Financial Guaranty Insurance Company, Vice President of Human Resources for GE Capital Auto Financial Services, and Director of Human Resources at Ernst & Young. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University. In addition, she is a graduate of GE's Management Development Program. David E. McGurn Jr. President, U.S. Wholesale Brokerage David E. McGurn joined Gallagher in 1978 as an Account Executive, moving up the leadership ranks from Unit Sales Manager, to Divisional Executive Vice President, to Divisional President. He is currently president of Gallagher’s U.S. Wholesale Brokerage operations, which he was instrumental in forming in 1996. He began his insurance career in 1976 as a management trainee with Aetna Insurance Company. Mr. McGurn has served on the Board of Directors of the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers (CIAB) since 1996 and is a former Board Chairman. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Finance from the University of Connecticut. Richard C. Tallo Chief Marketing & Communications Officer Richard Tallo joined Gallagher in 2014. As Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, he leads Gallagher's global marketing and communications efforts. Mr. Tallo brings more than 13 years of leadership experience in insurance marketing and communications. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications for the ACE Group of Companies in New York, where he was responsible for all internal and external communications and marketing for its North America businesses. Prior to joining ACE, he worked for American International Group in New York—first as Senior Marketing Manager, then as Director, Marketing and Communications for its American Home Assurance Company subsidiary. He holds both graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Connecticut. About Us Menu Why AJG? 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