What’s New: In brief (August 31, 2006)

Robert E. (Bob) Gallagher, chairman of the board of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., passed away following a brief illness. Gallagher, 83, joined his father’s insurance agency in 1947 after graduating from Cornell, working alongside his two brothers. In 1963, he was named president and CEO of Gallagher. The company went public in 1984 and, in 1990, he was elected chairman of the board. He continued to serve as CEO until 1995 and remained chairman until his death. Among his many contributions to Gallagher’s legacy is a one-page list of 25 shared values he called “the rock foundation of the company and our culture.” Concerned thatthe company’s shared values could be jeopardized during its rapid expansion in the ’80s, in 1984 he wrote a paper entitled, “The Gallagher Way.” More than 22 years later, every Gallagher employee is aware of these shared values, which are communicated regularly throughout the organization, according to the press release. Gallagher has been actively involved in the insurance industry, including terms served as director and president of the Insurance Institute of America. In 2001, he was named Insurance Industry Charitable Fund Man of the Year. Gallagher also served as Chairman of the Advisory Board of St. Vincent’s Infant Hospital in Chicago, and as a director of the Big Shoulders program of the Chicago Archdiocese, the House of Good Shepherd and Chicago Catholic Charities.

David Richardson has been named national account manager for Munters MCS, a division of Munters AB. Based in Munters’ Toledo, Ohio office, Richardson will be responsible for developing national and global accounts as well as maintaining relationships with key customers in the disaster restoration industry. Richardson joined MCS in July 2006. Prior to joining Munters, Richardson was vice president, client services for TTL Associates, Inc., a company offering environmental consulting and engineering services. There he directed the sales and marketing efforts as well as the company’s long-term response to disasters, including hurricane’s Katrina and Rita. Richardson earned a bachelor’s of business administration degree from the University of Toledo. MCS’ global division provides industrial dehumidification and building restoration services after water and fire damages throughout the world. Munters AB is a publicly owned company, based in Stockholm, Sweden.