Gallagher, the international risk management firm, has announced the acquisition of Professional Insurance Solutions, a Melbourne based brokerage.

“John [John Whiteside] and his team have a great reputation for client service and are a good fit for our business,” said Sarah Lyons (pictured above), Gallagher Australia CEO.

A Gallagher media release said Whiteside has built “a thriving business over the past 15 years” and a “loyal commercial client base.”

The acquisition expands the brokerage giant’s footprint in Victoria. In November, Gallagher acquired another Melbourne-based insurance brokerage, Smart Insurance Services (Smart).

In December, Gallagher announced the acquisition of a Brisbane based aviation focused broker, Aviation Insurance Australia.

Recent months have seen the global brokerage make numerous acquisitions. At the time of Aviation Insurance deal, a company spokesperson said the firm had already acquired seven companies in Australia in as many months.

“Our merger activity is a great endorsement of what we have to offer new merger partners, from our culture and way of doing business to our market relationships and global capabilities,” said Lyons.

Professional Insurance Solutions is an authorised representative (AR) of Insurance Advisernet. The media release said the firm’s team is now part of Gallagher’s broking workforce and will use the Gallagher brand.