Gallagher acquires HR consultancy Optimum Talent
Gallagher, a global insurance brokerage, risk management, and consulting firm, has acquired Optimum Talent, a Montreal-based human resources consulting firm.
Founded in 1981, Optimum Talent is one of the largest privately owned, integrated talent management firms in Canada. Led by Ronald Dahms, executive chair, and Mike Bacchus, CEO, the firm provides consulting services in executive and mid-management search, leadership assessment and development, and career transition and outplacement.
The consulting firm has more than 150 employees, according to LinkedIn, with 14 office locations from coast-to-coast.
Gallagher will add the Optimum team to its benefits and HR consulting division in Canada, which is headed by Melanie Jeannotte. The division offers advisory services in executive and group benefits, retirement plans, financial wellbeing, and HR and compensation.
Gallagher’s HR consulting offering spans labour relations, workplace investigations, HR systems and processes, and HR outsourcing.
The company’s Better Works organizational wellbeing strategy is a comprehensive approach to benefits, compensation, retirement, employee communication and workplace culture that aligns capital strategy with overall business goals.
"The Optimum Talent team will introduce our Gallagher Better Works™ organizational wellbeing strategy to the many clients that they support, expanding our senior management relationships across Canada and creating additional opportunities for capabilities discussions and consulting engagements," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., chairman, president, and CEO. "We are thrilled to welcome Ron, Mike, and their associates countrywide to our growing global team."
Gallagher is based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and has approximately 30,000 employees across 49 countries. The firm has 35 offices in Canada.
The company in 2018 bolstered its benefits and retirement offering with the acquisition of a number of Canadian consultancies, including Winnipeg’s Belton Boisselle, Ottawa’s Leystone Insurance & Financial, and Toronto’s Accompass.