CTOs on the Move

Bridge Specialty Group

Bridge Specialty Group, LLC was launched in February 2021 by Brown & Brown, Inc. to encompass its broad portfolio of wholesale insurance businesses and is focused on bringing the power of its collective size and specialty to the wholesale brokerage marketplace. Composed of more than 25 boutique brands, Bridge Specialty Group is creating a more seamless way to connect the varying needs of our retail partners with the market clout and talents of our wholesale entities. To learn more about Bridge Specialty Group and our team of niche-focused brands, visit our website at bridgespecialtygroup.com.

BKT Kosova

First branch of Banka Kombëtare Tregtare was established in Durrës on 29 November 1925, in the historical building where todays BKT Durrës Branch is situated. This building actually represents the oldest Albanian financial institution in the country. Banka Kombëtare Tregtare (BKT), with todays name, was established in January 1993, after the merging of the Albanian Commercial Bank (ACB) and the National Bank of Albania (NBA). The NBA on the other hand was established in 1992 as a result of a second sub-division of the State Bank of Albania. The NBA was set up to manage the domestic trading activity of the State-owned entities. The assets and liabilities from the activities of these two entities were transferred to BKT accounts since it was first established. Banka Kombëtare Tregtare was established as a Joint Stock Company in July 1997, with assets reaching ALL 2.7 billion. In February 2003, with the decision of the Shareholders​ General Meeting, the paid-up capital reached the amount of US$ 14, 64 million, turning BKT into the most capitalized bank in the whole Albanian banking system. The year 2006 started with a new vision for BKT. With the authorization of the Bank of Albania and pursuant to the specific court decision issued on June 9, 2006, it was approved the transfer of 60% plus 2 of the BKT shares possessed by Kent Bank in favour of Calik-Seker Konsorsiyum Yatirim A.S. On September 3, BKT opened its branch in Kosova and since that time, BKT Kosova has already opened 27 branches, ranking Banka Kombëtare Tregtare as the largest Albanian bank in the region. On June 30, 2009 Çalik Financial Services buys to IFC and EBRD shares being in this way the only BKT shareholder owning 100 % of the shares. On 30th April 2018 Banka Kombëtare Tregtare Kosova Branch, changes its status from Branch of a Foreign Bank to a subsidiary Bank. Now, its banking license has changed from Banka Kombëtare Tregtare Kosova Branch, to Banka Kombëtare Tregtare Kosovë J.S.C.

CivITas Bank Solutions

Big O Tires

The Big O Tires story begins back in 1962, just as Americas new love affair with the automobile was hitting high gear. The market for replacement tires was exploding, and independent tire dealers found themselves struggling to compete in the face of low prices offered by major tire manufacturers​ own company stores. Big Os founding fathers were a handful of progressive independent tire dealers who decided to band together to form a tire-buying cooperative so that they could secure volume pricing and keep their customers happy. Their concept worked. In the years that followed, The Big O Tires co-op evolved into a full-fledged franchise as it continued to find innovative ways to harness the power of the collective to benefit independent dealerships and their customers. Almost a half-decade later, Big O Tires has become North Americas largest retail tire franchisor, with over 400 independently-owned and operated locations in 20 states, providing customers with a broad range of automotive services in addition to quality tires, wheels and accessories. Big O has become an industry role model admired for its innovative approach to franchising and unmatched customer loyalty ratings. In 1996, Big O Tires joined forces with one of the largest and most respected tire marketers in the nation when it became part of the TBC Retail Group, an automotive retail network comprised of some 1,200 Big O Tires, Tire Kingdom, Merchants and NTB locations spanning 40 U.S. states. Big Os reach was broadened again in 2005, when TBC Corporation was acquired by Sumitomo Corporation of America, the largest wholly-owned subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sumitomo, one of the worlds leading traders of goods and services. As Big O Tires continues to thrive and adapt to an ever-changing marketplace, it remains rooted in its humble beginnings as a proud collective of independent dealers committed to putting its customers first.