Our History
1899
Max Gayen founds an insurance agency of the same name in Hamburg. He comes from an old Hamburg shipping family, occupies himself with marine insurance, operates and acquires in the best circles of Hamburg. Shipping line owners and private bankers are his close friends.
1924
Dr. Friedrich Karl Homann founds his agency for marine and ship insurance in Hamburg. It grows in 1941 and 1963 by taking over companies in Lübeck and Hamburg. In the fifties, Homann was one of the most important agencies in Germany, which finally encompassed four broker companies.
1927
Hans-Martin Berns. Foundation of the company Max Gayen & Berns when Hans Martin Berns joins. As a brilliant canvasser he makes a significant contribution to the growth of Max Gayen & Berns and is active until his death in 1971.
1946
Hans Mengers a Hanseatic merchant through and through, he joins the company and becomes a partner in 1952. He influences and makes a decisive contribution to the company’s development after the war, particularly by successfully concentrating on midsized companies.
1972
Leberecht Börger a graduate in business by training, becomes a partner of Friedrich Homann after many decades in the insurance business and makes a significant contribution to development in the following years.
1972
Gunter Mengers oldest son of Hans Mengers, becomes a partner at Max Gayen & Berns after many overseas postings.
1980
Claas Mengers second oldest son of Hans Mengers, becomes a partner at Max Gayen & Berns after ending his training and a long stay in London.
1980
Start of the expansion of Max Gayen & Berns to southern and western Germany.
1980
Foundation of the branch in Baden-Baden under the management of Till Schwarzer.
1983
Olaf von Seebeck an independent agent at Friedrich Homann for many years, becomes a partner of the company and dedicates himself until his death to Gaedertz~Schneider, a company belonging to Friedrich Homann.
1986
Foundation of a joint holding company for Max Gayen & Berns and Friedrich Homann and the start of successful strategic cooperation. Merger of Wolfgang Gaedertz & Co., Lübeck and Friedrich Schneider, Kiel, to form Gaedertz~Schneider GmbH.
1988
The holding company acquires the long-established Kölner Assekuranz Vermittlungs-Gesellschaft mbH (founded 1924) and consistently develops the presence in western Germany.
1989
The companies Max Gayen & Berns GmbH and Friedrich Homann GmbH move into their joint headquarters in the Börsenbrücke within sight of the Hamburg Insurance Exchange.
1990
After German reunification, the GBH Group sets up branches in Leipzig, Magdeburg, Rostock and Schwerin and consistently develops the business in the former East Germany.
1994
Merger of the insurance broker companies Max Gayen & Berns GmbH and Friedrich Homann GmbH to form Gayen & Berns · Homann GmbH.
1996
Andreas Tiefenbacher insurance businessman from a long family tradition, becomes a partner on joining Gayen & Berns · Homann.
1996
Renaming of ASSEKURANZ Vermittlungs-Gesellschaft mbH to Assekuranz Vermittlung Gayen & Berns · Homann GmbH, Cologne.
1997
The holding company acquires ATA Alster Treuhand- und Assekuranzmakler GmbH, Hamburg, thus strengthening its SME customer segment.
1999
One hundredth anniversary with 190 employees at premium volumes of more than 200 million DM. The independent GBH Group is now one of the 10 largest insurance brokers in Germany.
2001
Foundation of the GBH branch in Berlin under the management of Dr Reinhard Keil.
2001
Foundation of Luxx-RiskConsult GmbH www.luxxriskconsult.de
2003
Acquisition of Heinrich Rahner Versicherungsmakler GmbH, Baden-Baden.
2005
Michael Börger Assessor jur., son of Leberecht Börger, becomes a partner.
2005
On 1 July 2005, the GBH Baden-Baden branch, together with many invited guests from among customers and insurers, celebrates its 25th anniversary.
2007
Integration of Kölner ASSEKURANZ Vermittlung into Gayen & Berns · Homann GmbH.
2007
In June 2007 the newly founded branch in Munich starts its activities under the management of Ulrich Kiesl.
2007
Merger of Heinrich Rahner Versicherungsmakler GmbH with Gayen & Berns · Homann GmbH.
2007
Foundation of GBH Finanz- und Vorsorgeberatung GmbH.
2012
Malte Mengers, graduate in Business Administration, son of Gunter Mengers, becomes a partner after various postings at insurance companies and brokers domestically and abroad and employment at GBH.
2012
Foundation of GBH Kreditversicherungs - und Factoring-Makler GmbH (GBH Kredit)
2012
Gaedertz ~ Schneider GmbH celebrates the 125th anniversary of the company in the presence of customers, business partners and various guests of honour.
2013
Foundation of the GBH Frankfurt am Main branch
Foundation of Teicher & Partner GmbH, Prien
2014
Foundation of GBH HR Consulting GmbH