Grupo Galilea

The story begins in November 1942, when Vicente Galilea Serrano sold his first life insurance policy, laying the foundation for what would become a family-run insurance agency in Barcelona. For decades, the business grew policy by policy. A pivotal moment came in 1970 when his son, José María Galilea Puig, joined the firm. José María transformed the traditional agency into a multi-line insurance brokerage, expanding its services and reach. By the late 1980s, the company began its national expansion across Spain. This set the stage for the next chapter: growth through acquisition. In 2005, the investment firm JZ International (JZI) took a majority stake, providing the capital to fuel a "buy and build" strategy. Over the next 18 years, with JZI's backing, Grupo Galilea acquired more than 20 smaller brokerage firms, transforming from a family business into one of Spain's leading independent insurance brokers. A significant changing of the guard occurred in 2023. After a competitive process, JZI sold its majority stake to Söderberg & Partners, a Swedish financial advisor and insurance broker. This transaction marked the next phase in Galilea's journey, providing a new strategic partner focused on the insurance sector to support international expansion. Even with the new ownership, the company stated that the management and team, led by chairman José María Galilea, would remain in place to continue its growth story.