1. A Powerful Combination: Gallagher Meets Dyste Williams

On March 3, 2025, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG) announced its acquisition of Dyste Williams, a respected commercial insurance agency based in Minneapolis that serves the Upper Midwest including Chicago with commercial lines and employee benefits. The strategic alignment is clear; this acquisition is a meaningful step in bolstering Gallagher’s national reach and deepening its small to medium sized business insurance offerings.

At the core of this move is the powerful synergy between a national insurance powerhouse and a locally trusted agency. Dyste Williams brings established client relationships, a strong regional reputation, and comprehensive service capabilities. Gallagher, on the other hand, offers national resources, infrastructure, and scale. This means that customers now benefit from both best-in-class local service and global support systems.

2. Seamless Integration Keeps Client Focus First

What matters most to Dyste Williams’ clients? Continuity. Ted Dyste, Nels Dyste, and their entire team will remain in place, continuing to serve their loyal clients now under the Gallagher Agency Alliance umbrella. They will operate under the leadership of the Gallagher Select Team, the segment focused on U.S. property & casualty for small to medium sized businesses, including Physicians, Clinics, and Hospitals.

3. Why This Matters for Your Practice

As a resolute advisor serving health practices, I cannot overstate the value of stability and trust. Mergers often raise concerns—will I lose my personal agent? Will service slow down? Will the values I have relied on shift?
The answer is no. This new alignment brings meaningful advantages:

Expanded Capabilities

Access to Gallagher’s national portfolio, including:
- Risk management insights
- Broader insurance product offerings
- Sophisticated analytics tools
A larger support network offers peace of mind on a national scale.
Gallagher’s scale delivers advanced tools (e.g., loss analysis, cybersecurity, and risk programs), previously available only to larger entities. Now, local health practices can tap into these with support from familiar faces.

Enhanced Negotiating Power

Stronger leverage with carriers due to Gallagher’s size and brand.
Potential for more competitive premium and coverage terms.

Ongoing Client Support

Stepwise integration, led by Gallagher Select, ensures minimal client disruption.
Insights and best practices from Gallagher’s agency alliance will uplift Dyste Williams’ high-touch model.

4. Final Thoughts

For practices across the Upper Midwest, the Dyste Williams–Gallagher partnership is a significant win. It marries the strengths of local expertise and client focus with a national insurance leader’s support and resources. For your health practice.

As your advisor, I’m committed to guiding you through this and ensuring your relationships and service remain top priority. If you are curious about how your policies, or your new business if you are not a current client, might benefit from Gallagher’s enhanced resources, whether it’s medical professional liability, cyber liability, workers compensation, or management liabilities, I’m happy to discuss this with you directly.

About the Author

Jim Davis
Business Insurance Advisor | Health Practice Advisors

With over two decades of helping healthcare professionals find the right insurance and risk-management solutions, I am dedicated to simplifying complex coverages and helping your practice protect its future.