NU Online News Service, Nov. 12, 3:24 p.m.EST

Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, a subsidiary of insurancebroker Marsh Inc., today announced the first of a series of plannedstrategic acquisitions in its plan to build a nationalbusiness.

The company, without disclosing financial terms, said it hadacquired Insurance Alliance, which it described as one of thelargest independent insurance agencies in Texas.

Marsh & McLennan Agency said its goal is to create abusiness to serve the needs of small to mid-sized companies acrossthe country.

Houston-based Insurance Alliance has an annual revenue of $15million and serves over 1,500 commercial clients located primarilyin Texas and throughout the Southwest, according to Marsh.

Insurance Alliance has specialist teams serving clients inconstruction, surety, energy and marine, professional services,general property and casualty, and employee benefits, said Marsh.Established in 1992, Insurance Alliance has 72 employees.

David Eslick, chairman and CEO of Marsh & McLennan Agency,called Insurance Alliance, "a well-managed and growing enterprisewith a highly qualified professional team and a reputation forservice excellence," that "fits perfectly with the nationalorganization we are working to build at Marsh & McLennanAgency."

In addition to announcing the acquisition, Marsh & McLennanAgency said Woody Woodard has been appointed chief executiveofficer of its new Southwest operation. Mr. Woodard had beenchairman of Insurance Alliance. In addition, Insurance Allianceexecutives Jim Berger will be chief operating officer and JimTomforde will be vice president of sales for the Southwest.

Mr. Woodard said, his organization looks forward "to helpingbuild what we expect will be among the top national organizationsin this industry."

Marsh announced the establishment of Marsh & McLennan Agencyin October 2008, saying it planned to make it one of the premiereinsurance agencies in the United States, offering commercialproperty and casualty, personal lines, and employee benefits toclient across the U.S.

The new operation said it is planning additional acquisitions asit moves to build a national organization. Mr. Eslick, who joinedthe firm at the start of 2009, has a track record of success inbuilding national insurance agencies in the same manner, Marshsaid.