With acquisition, Cross Insurance adds to its Massachusetts portfolio

Courtesy / Cross Insurance Cross Insurance acquires North Andover-based Patriot Benefit Solutions Insurance Agency. Shown here is Cross Insurance CEO Jonathan Cross.

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By Alexis Wells

Cross Insurance, one of the largest independent insurance providers in the Northeast, announced it has purchased Patriot Benefit Solutions Insurance Agency, based in North Andover, Mass.

The purchase of Patriot Benefit Solutions Insurance Agency will help broaden Cross Insurance’s service offerings and the agency’s ongoing strategic plans.

The Patriot Benefit Solutions team will remain in North Andover and operate under the name Cross Insurance, overseen by Dave Messersmith, president of Cross Insurance's coastal region.

“This strategic alliance will continue to better serve the needs of our existing New England clients while also opening the doors wide open for new ones,” Messersmith said.

Bangor-based Cross Insurance has acquired more than 120 insurance agencies since it was founded in 1954. The company has 1,000 employees at offices in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and Florida.

“We look forward to becoming part of Cross Insurance, a successful family-owned and operated insurance agency that shares our values,” said John F. Kelley, owner and employee benefits consultant. “Under the Cross name, our agency will continue to invest in our knowledgeable staffing service capabilities, allowing us to offer unparalleled support, including implementing and maintaining exceptional benefit programs.”

Cross Insurance was ranked No. 9 among the largest Maine family-owned businesses in the 2022 Mainebiz Book of Lists, based on the number of Maine employees as of June 30, 2021. Cross Insurance has 387 Maine employees and 14 Maine locations, according to the 2022 Mainebiz Book of Lists.

Mainebiz reported on Sept. 9 that Royce Ross would step down as CEO to be succeeded by his son, Jonathan Cross, now the third CEO of Cross Insurance.