ITASCA, Ill., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG) today announced that Scott R. Hudson has joined Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. as its President and Chief Executive Officer. He will be responsible for leading this subsidiary's worldwide property/casualty third-party claims management, loss control and administrative services efforts. He will also join Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.'s Executive Management Committee as a Corporate Vice President.

Mr. Hudson brings more than 25 years of experience as a business consultant specializing in the insurance and financial services industries. He began his consulting career with Anderson Consulting (now Accenture), and over the years he has held key leadership positions with Information Consulting Group; McKinsey & Company, Inc.; Renaissance Worldwide, Inc.; and, most recently, Bridge Strategy Group LLC in Chicago, where he served as Director, Insurance Practice. Mr. Hudson earned his bachelor's degree in finance from Iowa State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

"We are very pleased that Scott has decided to join our team," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. "Scott's extensive experience as a consultant working with insurance and financial services firms, including Gallagher, makes him an ideal choice to lead Gallagher Bassett into the future. We look forward to working with him in the coming years as we focus on driving our long-term growth and profitability."

"Gallagher Bassett is known throughout the industry as being the quality leader among property/casualty TPAs," said Scott Hudson. "It's a great honor to be joining such an impressive team, and I look forward to working together to build on the organization's success."

Gallagher Bassett, a subsidiary of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., is the world's largest property/casualty third-party claims administrator and has more than 3,800 employees worldwide. In 2009 and 2008, Gallagher Bassett received Business Insurance magazine's coveted Readers Choice Award for Best Property/Casualty Third-Party Claims Administrator.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., an international insurance brokerage and risk management services firm, is headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, has operations in 15 countries and does business in more than 100 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.