Finance Monthly CFO Awards 2019 Winners Edition

CFO of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. DOUGLAS HOWELL Douglas Howell is Chief Financial Officer of Rolling Meadows, Illinois-based Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., a position he has served in since he joined the firm in 2003. Doug is responsible for the company’s financial, information technology, administrativeandM&Afinancing functions –havingoverseen thecompletion of more than 535 acquisitions during his time at Gallagher. Doug also leads many operational, quality and productivity enhancement initiatives, and was the driving force behind establishing Gallagher’s international centers of excellence in 2005, which house over 5,000 associates today. He additionally represents Gallagher in dealings with investment analysts and institutional investors. From when he joined Gallagher in March 2003 until June 2019, Gallagher shares have a cumulative total return in excess of 575%, compared to the S&P 500 index total return of 400%. In 2018, he led the implementation of a new revenue recognition accounting standard and was instrumental in the company’s expense saving initiatives, which helped increase Gallagher’s adjusted EBITDAC margin. This was accomplished while the company continued to invest in talent, data and analytics initiatives, and marketing/branding activities. Doug also successfully executed the financing of Gallagher’s 2018 acquisition program using primarily cash and debt, including the issuance of $500 million in private placement debt. Gallagher’s clean energy investments, which provide substantial environmental benefits, also fall under Doug’s direct responsibilities. These investments have generated more than $1 billion of value to Gallagher since their inception and contributed $118.6 million to net earnings in 2018 alone. Doug came to Gallagher with more than 20 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry, including serving as CFO of both public and private insurance companies. A Certified Public Accountant, Doug began his career with the public accounting and consulting firms now known as PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Iowa State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago. FIRM PROFILE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. is engaged in providing insurance brokerage, consulting, and third-party property/casualty claims settlement and administration services to businesses and organizations around the world. Since the company’s founding in 1927, Gallagher has grown from a one-person insurance agency to a global firm operating or offering client service capabilities in more than 150 countries with revenues exceeding $6.5 billion. Gallagher’s core purpose and part of the company’s foundation has been guiding clients to face their future with confidence. Business Insurance magazine’s July 2019 edition ranked Gallagher as the world’s fourth largest insurance broker based on 2018 revenues, and Gallagher Bassett was recognized as one of the world’s largest multi-line third party claims administrators, according to the magazine’s May 2019 edition. Gallagher’s brokerage operations provide brokerage and consulting services to businesses and organizations of all types in the areas of insurance placement, risk management, and employer-sponsored benefit programs. The risk management operations provide contract claim settlement, claim administration, loss control and risk management consulting services for organizations that choose to self- insure their property/casualty coverages or use a third-party claims management organization, rather than the claim services provided by an underwriting enterprise. Gallagher’s four key operating priorities to create long-term stakeholder value include: 1) growing organically; 2) growing through mergers and acquisitions; 3) improving productivity and enhancing quality; and 4) maintaining the company’s unique culture. And during 2018 the firm excelled in all four of its strategic priorities. Gallagher delivered 5.9% total 2018 organic revenue growth, including 5.6% in the brokerage segment and 7.1% in the risk management segment. This organic revenue performance, combined with the 48 acquisitions completed during 2018 helped drive total 2018 revenue growth in excess of 10%. Gallagher also enhanced productivity, improving its brokerage and risk management segments’ combined adjusted EBITDAC margin by 40 basis points to 26.0%. These financial results were all achieved while maintaining a culture that led to the firm being recognized for the seventh straight year as a World’s Most Ethical Company® by the Ethisphere Institute. CONTACT Gallagher Global Headquarters 2850 Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel: 630.773.3800 Finance Monthly CFO Awards 2019 www.finance-monthly.com 62 Finance Monthly CFO Awards 2019 USA