Host Callan Harrington sits down with Chad King, Chairman and Founder of King Risk Partners, to explore how he transformed a 6-person family agency into a $125 million powerhouse with over 600 employees. Chad shares the pivotal lesson from his father about keeping your word that became the foundation of his business philosophy, from driving through hurricanes to close deals to building authentic relationships that differentiate King in the competitive M&A landscape.

Chad reveals his unconventional early acquisition strategy where agencies with websites were considered too big to buy, leading to creative deal structures and genuine connections with sellers. He discusses the evolution from hands-on operator to visionary leader, the importance of finding patriots over mercenaries in partnerships, and how maintaining personal relationships at scale has driven King's growth to over 60 acquisitions.

Chad's story demonstrates how authentic leadership and genuine care for people can build extraordinary business results while maintaining strong company culture.

Key topics covered:

[00:00] Intro
[01:06] Dad's lesson about keeping your word
[03:17] Driving through hurricanes for M&A deals
[06:16] Leaving Wall Street for family insurance agency
[09:13] First acquisition strategy targeting agencies without websites
[12:16] Creative deal structures for early acquisitions
[15:02] Choosing the right private equity partner
[18:51] Building emotional connections in M&A deals
[22:02] Maintaining personal relationships at scale
[26:22] Patriots vs mercenaries approach to acquisitions
[28:48] Providing confidence through transparency and testimonials
[32:38] Evolving leadership through different growth stages
[36:33] Finding your zone of genius in M&A
[39:41] Building with humility and asking for help
[40:46] Long-term vision for company culture

Connect with Chad King: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malcolm-chad-king-509a1812

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