Merger with McDougall Insurance ‘a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,’ says Jason Duliban
Little will change for clients of Duliban Insurance after the Niagara brokerage merged with Belleville, Ont.-based McDougall Insurance, a company Duliban co-principal Jason Duliban said were “partners we admire.”
In a posting on McDougall’s website that announced the merger, Duliban said the merger was “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to take our organization to a national level.”
McDougall, founded in 1946, has grown to more than 40 branches across Ontario and into Atlantic Canada.
“This was a pivotal decision for our family business; we took the responsibilities we felt towards our team, clients, communities and history very seriously throughout this process,” he said. “Ultimately, we knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to take our organization to a national level.”
McDougall Insurance CEO Ross McDougall said Duliban is a good fit for his company’s portfolio.
“If prior to this merger we were asked to list the best brokerages in Canada, Duliban would have been a name at the very top,” he said. “Like us, they are a family business that puts their communities, staff and clients first. Their growth and strategy complement our own perfectly, and I have complete confidence that this merger elevates our combined operations to a whole new level.”
Jason Duliban will remain in his current capacity with Duliban, while also joining McDougall’s leadership team. Adam Duliban, who was co-principal at Duliban with his twin brother, will work with the firm through a transitory period before turning his focus to other family assets.
“Both Duliban and McDougall Insurance have a common history and focus,” Adam said. “And we know this merger will allow us the ability to grow and strengthen our businesses and service offerings moving forward.”
The merger won’t affect branding with the Duliban Insurance name, offices and employees remaining in place while the company becomes a division of McDougall.
Jason and Adam are the third generation of Dulibans to operate the family business, having taken it over from their father, Tom, in 2013.
James Duliban established the company in 1976 when he purchased Welland insurance business R.F. Seehuber Insurance Agency and renamed it to James Duliban Insurance. Since then, the company has grown with offices across Niagara, including two in Pelham. The company also branched out to Haldimand County with a branch office in Dunnville.
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