World Insurance Acquires 2 Massachusetts Agencies: Tarpey and Rush-Kent

Insurance broker World Insurance Associates acquired two Massachusetts agencies: Tarpey Insurance Group of Wakefield, and Rush-Kent Insurance Agency Inc. of Arlington, on August 1.

Tarpey is a family-owned and operated insurance agency. James J. Tarpey took ownership of the agency in 1979. after starting his insurance career as as an underwriter for Royal Insurance. He came to the agency in 1968 and has been the CEO since 1979. All five of Jim’s children: Mike, Liz, Jim, Mark, and Steve joined the agency and have been partners with Jim since the late 90’s. During the last decade, several other family members have joined the agency.

The main office is located in Wakefield with branch offices in Newton, Saugus, Lexington and Melrose. Over the years. Tarpey acquired several agencies including TSB Insurance Services, also of Wakefield, and W.C. Huntress Insurance and Wilson Insurance Agency, both in Melrose.

In 1925 J. Quinton Rush established the J.Q. Rush Real Estate and Insurance office in Arlington, specializing in real estate sales as well as insurance. Charles R. Kent acquired the agency from J.Q. Rush in 1969, changing the name to Rush-Kent Insurance Agency. In 1980, the agency moved to its current location in Arlington. Over the years, it acquired several agencies. The current principals, Paul W. Kent and Robert C. Kent, have been with the agency since 1984.

“The Tarpey Insurance Group has always been committed to providing its customers with the highest quality service possible,” said Liz Tarpey-Kent, president, Tarpey Insurance Group, who is married to Robert Kent, one of the principals at Bush-Kent.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

World Insurance Associates is headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey. Since its founding in 2011, World has completed 155 acquisitions and serves customers from more than 250 offices across the United States.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Agencies Massachusetts