(DENVER – MARCH 15, 2021) IMA Financial Group, a North American insurance brokerage firm specializing in retail insurance, consulting, risk management, wholesale brokerage and wealth management, announced today that it will partner with Oregon-based k.p.d. Insurance Inc. to expand its brokerage services to the Pacific Northwest. The transaction is effective April 1, 2021.
The partnership is IMA’s first in the Pacific Northwest and adds to its deep bench strength with additional specialties in wood products, wildland firefighting and transportation. k.p.d. is the ninth broker to join IMA in the past 12 months and the largest to date.
“k.p.d.’s business strongly aligns with our growth strategy, which emphasizes expanding our client-first mentality through partnerships with organizations that share our values and vision,” said IMA Financial Group Chairman & CEO Rob Cohen. “As we navigated 2020, we stepped up our efforts to grow, both organically and by seeking out strategic partnerships with like-minded companies such as k.p.d.”
k.p.d. will become an IMA Financial Group company but retain its name. Its CEO, Kyle Hudson, will lead IMA’s Pacific Northwest region, with his team of nearly 100 employees in the company’s Portland and Springfield, Oregon, offices providing the foundation for Pacific Northwest growth.
“We have been industry peer partners for years and recognize that k.p.d.’s young, talented team shares our strategic focus on specialty areas and commitment to high-level client solutions,” said IMA Financial Group President Luke Proctor. “In partnering with IMA, Kyle and the k.p.d. team can expand into new areas and continue their impressive growth trajectory and client retention.”
Like IMA, k.p.d. is recognized as a “best places to work” company and has a long history of serving clients in property & casualty, employee benefits, surety, workers compensation and personal insurance. In addition to outstanding year-over-year growth, k.p.d. consistently achieves an industry-leading client retention rate.
“We are beyond excited about our partnership with IMA. As a stand-alone organization, we were well positioned to internally perpetuate under our current structure. When considering client needs of the future, we consciously elected to partner with IMA to bring our clients and prospects expanded resources and expertise,” said Hudson. “More than anything, joining IMA gives our team an incredible opportunity to be part of larger firm that shares the same core values of independence and culture. At the same time, it gives our employees an incredible opportunity to be a part of a larger firm with a shared ‘kandu’ spirit, k.p.d.’s companywide culture of loyalty, independence and hard work, named for our mascot, Kandu the elephant.”
ABOUT IMA FINANCIAL GROUP
IMA Financial Group is a North American insurance brokerage firm specializing in risk management, insurance, employee benefits and wealth management. The sixth-largest independent, employee-owned brokerage in the U.S., IMA employs nearly 900 associates, with anchor offices in Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas. The company’s mission is to protect assets and make a difference for its clients, associates and communities.
View this story in other media outlets
Business Insurance: “IMA to buy Oregon broker”
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Media Contacts:
Ruth Rohs, VP Corporate Communications/Executive Director of the IMA Foundation, ruth.rohs@imacorp.com
Tracy Henderson, Center Reach Communications, tracy@centerreachcommunication.com
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