Martin Rivard, a well-known figure in Florida’s insurance industry, has joined forces with Gallagher. He generously agreed to answer our questions about this very promising partnership.
What motivated you to join Gallagher, and what does this new chapter in your career mean to you?
Gallagher acquired AssuredPartners, the firm I joined more than seven years ago, and that connection made this transition feel very natural to me. When I joined AssuredPartners, it gave me the opportunity to work with the resources of a national broker and provide my clients with strong products and responsive service. Becoming part of Gallagher takes that to an entirely new level, and I’m genuinely excited about it.
For me, this new chapter represents growth, opportunity, and an even greater ability to serve clients well. I now have the backing of one of the largest brokers in the world, which means my reach is no longer just national—it’s international. That gives me the confidence to say that no account is too large or too complex for us to support.
How would you describe the added value that Gallagher brings to your clients?
What I appreciate most about Gallagher is that the company’s values are not just words—they truly guide how we work every day. The Gallagher Way shapes what we do, how we do it, and why we do it, and that consistency matters to clients.
The value to our clients is significant. Through Gallagher, we now have access to an even broader range of products, markets, and specialized expertise. That means we can build solutions that are more tailored, more strategic, and often more competitive.
For example, some of my clients are involved with condominium associations, and Gallagher is the recognized leader in that space for FL & the U.S. I now have direct access to the best real estate and hospitality team in FL that is just a few miles from my office & on my speed dial! That kind of support is invaluable. Once a client meets our minimum thresholds, they have the full strength of our team and the broader Gallagher network behind them.
That level of support translates into stronger program structures, better market access, and a proactive approach to managing risk and reducing total cost of risk.
What types of insurance solutions or risk management services do you offer?
Under Gallagher, we are able to offer a broad range of insurance and risk management solutions designed to meet the unique needs of individuals, partnerships, corporations, REITs, nonprofits, and associations.
Our solutions include coverage for:
- Property
- General liability
- Directors and officers (D&O)
- Workers’ compensation
- Errors and omissions (E&O)
- Environmental liability
- Cyber liability
We also have the resources to handle Canada-U.S. cross-border exposures, as well as national and international risks.
One of the benefits of being part of Gallagher is that we can tap into many different internal resources depending on the client’s industry, size, and scope of operations. That flexibility allows us to take a thoughtful, customized approach to each account.
What are the most common needs among Florida residents and Canadian “snowbirds,” and how do you address them most effectively?
The most common needs I see are property insurance, auto insurance, and liability insurance. These are important coverage areas for many Florida residents and especially for Canadian snowbirds who spend part of the year here and want to make sure their assets are properly protected.
This partnership with Gallagher is a real advantage because it allows us to help clients wherever they are. We also have access to a highly experienced team in Quebec that works with both commercial and personal lines carriers and is committed to providing excellent service.
I’ve also built a direct relationship with division leaders in Quebec, which means my clients can now be connected with the right resources quickly and effectively. If someone would like a review of their personal or commercial insurance, I’m always happy to help, and no account is too large. Martin_Rivard@ajg.com
What are your goals for the coming years at Gallagher?
MMy goal is to fully bring the Gallagher Way into everything we do, so we can continue delivering best-in-class products and service to our clients, one policy at a time.
More than anything, I want this next chapter to reflect the same values that have guided me throughout my career: being responsive, building trust, and doing right by the people we serve.
