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You are here: Home / Agency Perpetuations, Valuations & Sales / Agency Mergers & Acquisitions / Cross Insurance Acquires Weymouth’s A.E. Barnes Insurance Agency

Cross Insurance Acquires Weymouth’s A.E. Barnes Insurance Agency

May 16, 2017 by AC Editor

The agency’s South Shore presence is growing by leaps and bounds

Agency Checklists, MA Insurance News, Mass. Insurance News
A screenshot of the A. E. Barnes Insurance Agency. Source: Google

Cross Insurance has acquired another independent agency on the South Shore, announcing its purchase of the A.E. Barnes Insurance Agency, Inc. on March 2nd.

“Our acquisition of A. E. Barnes Insurance expands our footprint in Massachusetts and particularly on Boston’s South Shore,” said Jonathan Cross, Chief Operating Officer of Cross Insurance.  “They’re a company that epitomizes quality customer service, integrity, hard work, loyalty, and dedication so important to us.  We’re proud to welcome A. E. Barnes clientele and employees to the Cross family of insurance agencies.”

Servicing the South Shore for over 100 years

Founded in 1915, the A. E. Barnes Agency has been a stalwart on the South Shore for over 100 years. The agency, based in South Weymouth, is currently run by Preston and Geoffrey Hoffman. According to the terms of the transaction, both Mr. Hoffmans will continue on after the sale of their agency, with Preston Hoffman serving as President and Geoffrey Hoffman as Vice President. All of the agency staff will continue on in their same capacity as well.

“Our business strategy has always stressed offering the best and most varied insurance products to our clients, whether it be for home, car, life, health, business, employee benefits and specialty products” said Preston Hoffman, President of A. E. Barnes.  “Through our partnership with Cross Insurance, we can continue that tradition and expand our product line exponentially, bringing our customer service to a whole new level, bringing the strength and resources of a large enterprise with the feel of a small, local business.”

Agency Checklists, MA Insurance News, Mass. Insurance News
A screenshot of the A.E. Barnes Insurance Agency website

“A. E. Barnes has always been a family-focused business, and it was important to us to maintain that focus,” said Geoffrey Hoffman, Vice President of A. E. Barnes.  “Cross Insurance is a well-respected, family-owned enterprise that exemplifies our business philosophy and we’re proud to become part of the Cross Insurance organization.”

Cross Insurance now has a 14 locations throughout Massachusetts

Founded in 1954 by Woodrow Cross, Cross Insurance has grown via strategic acquisitions over the past 60 years to become one of the largest insurance agencies in New England. Still family-owned and operated, the agency now boasts more than 700 employees operating out of 35 offices located in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Florida.

With the addition of A.E. Barnes, Cross Insurance now boasts five locations on the South Shore including Duxbury, Braintree, Norwell, Quincy and South Weymouth. In total, it now operates 14 locations throughout Massachusetts. For those interested in learning more about the Cross family and their philosophy, don’t miss Agency Checklists January 31, 2017 article “All in the Family: An Interview With Royce Cross, President & CEO of Cross Insurance.”

 

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