IMA Financial Group Accelerates Growth of National Private Equity and M&A Practice with Seven Strategic Hires

 

DALLAS, Aug. 12, 2026 — IMA Financial Group, a North American insurance brokerage firm specializing in risk management, wholesale brokerage and investment advisory services, announced the addition of seven new hires to its Private Equity and M&A Practice. 

 

The hires represent the latest investment in a practice that has become one of IMA's fastest-growing specialty practices. Less than five years after its launch, the Private Equity practice includes 50 associates serving more than 350 private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, supporting $8.4 billion in annual transaction volume.

 

"Private equity firms need a partner that supports the full lifecycle of an M&A transaction, then keeps creating value across the portfolio long after a deal closes," said IMA National Practice Director of Private Equity and M&A and Dallas Market President Jordyn Arons Rosen. "These hires strengthen our ability to deliver specialized insurance, employee benefits, retirement and transaction advisory resources to both private equity sponsors and portfolio companies, particularly in the middle market, where clients need sophisticated expertise backed by an integrated national team." 

 

The practice also includes IMA Diligence Services, IMA's Chicago-based financial due diligence business, providing financial and lender due diligence and transaction advisory services to private equity firms, commercial lenders and institutional investors.

 

The new hires add senior growth leadership, transaction broking, account management and production capabilities across multiple U.S. markets and include: 

• Shawn Carroll, National Growth Leader, Private Equity and M&A (Austin)

• Brennan Pendergast, Executive Risk Leader, Private Equity and M&A (Charlotte)

• Kevin Crowley, Team Lead, Private Equity and M&A (Austin)

• Rebekah Craig, Senior Account Executive, Private Equity and M&A (Phoenix)

• Farrah Ata, Account Executive, Private Equity and M&A (Dallas)

• Alan Devey, Producer, Private Equity and M&A (Chicago) 

• Brian Mulroe, Producer, Private Equity and M&A (Chicago)

Shawn Carroll joins IMA as the Private Equity and M&A Practice's National Growth Leader to catalyze the practice's national expansion, with a particular focus on the middle-market private equity segment where IMA has built a strong presence. Carroll served more than 23 years in leadership positions with Willis Towers Watson, including leading the Dallas-based M&A Team, its largest in the western U.S., and has more than 25 years of experience helping private equity firms and management teams structure complex M&A risk transfer solutions. He will serve as both a producer and a strategic resource to IMA's Private Equity and M&A Practice, helping drive national growth, deepen relationships with private equity firms and portfolio companies and advance the practice's capabilities and go-to-market strategy. 

 

Brennan Pendergast joins IMA as Executive Risk Leader for the Private Equity and M&A Practice. Bringing 10 years of experience, he will advise private equity sponsors and portfolio companies on executive risk, transactional insurance strategies and complex management liability solutions. He most recently served as Vice President, Southeast Private Company Panel Leader at Lockton, where he managed relationships with more than 100 private equity firms and their portfolio companies. 

 

Kevin Crowley joins IMA as Team Lead, Private Equity and M&A, partnering with private equity sponsors and portfolio company leaders to execute portfolio-wide insurance strategies, implement diligence recommendations and deliver a consistent, high-touch client experience throughout the investment lifecycle. He previously served as Broking and Client Engagement Leader for Willis Towers Watson's Mergers & Acquisitions group, bringing two decades of commercial insurance experience — including structuring domestic and global insurance programs for portfolio companies and leading due diligence from coverage and cost analysis through execution.

 

Rebekah Craig joins IMA as Senior Account Executive, and Farrah Ata joins as Account Executive. Craig previously served as a client advocate and lead advisor for major commercial clients, managing complex property, casualty, management liability and cyber insurance programs. Ata specialized in mergers and acquisitions. Their complementary experience and record of delivering strong client results will strengthen IMA's integrated advisory capabilities for private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies.

 

Producers Alan Devey and Brian Mulroe join IMA from Lockton Companies in Chicago. They will strengthen the Private Equity and M&A team's risk management, employee benefits and retirement services capabilities for mergers, acquisitions and other strategic transactions. 

"Our priorities are growth, deeper client relationships and showcasing our capabilities to private equity firms and their portfolio companies," said Carroll. "We want IMA to be seen as a trusted advisor that delivers measurable outcomes and helps clients navigate an increasingly digital, AI-driven landscape — by building strong partnerships, developing exceptional talent and bringing innovative solutions to market."

IMA Financial Group is an independent broker, defining the future of insurance through comprehensive and consultative risk and investment advisory services. A majority employee-owned and managed company, its 3,000-plus associates in offices across the country are empowered by a shared mission to manage risk, protect assets and make a difference.