Willis North America (WNA), a unit of global risk advisor, insurance and reinsurance broker Willis Group, has purchased the employee benefits consulting division of Birmingham, Alabama-based Capital Strategies Group.

Capital Strategies Group’s employee benefits consulting division, led by George Gould, has been a provider of employee benefits plan design, consulting and brokerage services to some of the leading firms in Alabama and throughout the Southeast for over 17 years.

Upon completion of the transaction, Capital Strategies’ employee benefits consulting team will integrate with Willis of Alabama and continue to serve clients out of Willis’s Birmingham office.

Capital Strategies’ George Gould will assume the designation of senior vice president and report to Rob Allen, president of Willis of Alabama.

Willis of Alabama delivers human capital and risk management solutions to various industries supported by nearly 130 Associates from offices in Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery and Madison.

Rob Allen said that the company is pleased to expand its footprint in the human capital space in Alabama and it sees ample opportunity for growth.

George Gould commented, "We are excited to combine forces with Willis to build on our success over the past 17 years and join a global, state-of-the-art firm. Willis greatly enhances the resources and depth of expertise we can now offer our clients."

With over 17,500 employees in more than 400 offices, Willis Group provides its clients with expertise, teamwork, innovation and market-leading products and professional services in risk management and transfer.