Rusty Reid was named president and CEO of Higginbotham in 1989 at the age of 27. At that time, he implemented the firm’s defining “single source” service model whereby customers can obtain all their insurance and financial services under one roof.
He also had the foresight to establish Higginbotham’s employee ownership structure, aligning all employees’ interests in the success of the firm. Under Rusty’s leadership, Higginbotham has grown to become the nation’s 21st-largest independent insurance brokerage firm and Texas’s largest—one with full property/casualty, financial, and HR service capabilities through offices coast to coast.
We discuss:
- How to recruit well and build a culture
- Successfully integrating acquired companies
- Philosophy of generosity
Links:
Higginbotham - https://www.higginbotham.com/
Topics:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:44 - Infectious energy
00:03:01 - Rusty’s early life and career
00:27:42 - Company growth strategies
00:30:49 - How to recruit well
00:37:09 - Building culture
00:49:17 - Rusty on ‘buying themselves’
00:56:13 - Going on offense and acquiring companies
01:01:24 - The value in staying busy
01:06:19 - How to value an insurance business
01:12:00 - How do you integrate an acquisition?
01:18:10 - StonePoint partnership
01:21:50 - Thoughts on AI
01:27:55 - Philosophy on generosity
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