Higginbotham Teams With South Georgia’s Blanton & Griffin Agency

Higginbotham, ranked as the 16th-largest independent brokerage in the U.S., has expanded again, this time with the acquisition of Blanton & Griffin Insurance Agency in Valdosta, Georgia.

The collaboration adds southern Georgia market strength and an established local team to Higginbotham’s growing Georgia presence, while giving Blanton & Griffin expanded resources, carrier relationships and service support, the company said in a news release.

Blanton has retained its name but is now known as a Higginbotham partner, its website shows. The agency was born in 1985 with the merger of Lou Blanton and Archie Griffin agencies. It has focused on commercial lines, including construction, hospitality, nonprofit and manufacturing coverage.

In early 2025 Blanton expanded from three owners to seven. This year, they decided that joining forces with a national firm would bring the scale and support for the future, the companies said. Higginbotham also is employee-owned, making for a good fit, President Ben Blanton said.

Higginbotham, now in its 78th year of business, is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.