King Insurance Adds Barnette Agency in NC, Gilbert Named President

Gainesville, Florida-based King Insurance Partners has acquired Barnette and Coates Inc., an agency in Henderson, North Carolina.

Principal Jimmy Barnette said in a news release that the move will allow the agency to expand its access to resources and expertise. Barnette, which offers a full range of property-casualty insurance coverage, including auto, homeowners, commercial,

condominium, farm and flood, also has offices in Asheville and Smyrna.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

King Insurance, one of the larger U.S. brokerages, has continued a steady pace of expansion in recent years through acquisitions, mergers and organic growth. Earlier this month, King named Pete Gilbertson president of the organization.

Gilbertson previously was executive vice president at USI, where he managed California operations. Before that, he held other insurance industry roles, including executive vice president at Wells Fargo Insurance Services and assistant vice president at Marsh, according to a news release.