Lamont Celebrates Expansion of Global Atlantic Financial Group In Downtown Hartford

by Hudson Kamphausen CTNewsJunkie

Gov. Ned Lamont joined fellow politicians and corporate partners in christening more business expansion Wednesday in downtown Hartford and hailed young people in the state for “bringing the city back to life.”
Global Atlantic Financial Group, an insurance and investment group that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of KKR & C., invited state leaders and others in to unveil its new 18th-floor office following a renovation and expansion of their space there. 
Lamont said it is his job to make sure Connecticut has the workforce necessary to help companies continue to grow and to convince others to choose Connecticut.

“I think Hartford can continue its competitive edge, you just have got to make sure you have the people you need, the IT skills you need, the AI that you need going forward in order to continue to expand and grow right here in Hartford,” Lamont said.

“Welcome to Hartford,” Lamont said during the news conference.
Lamont told reporters that Global Atlantic’s expansion in The Gold Building is good for downtown Hartford, and that he hopes to see more people returning to work in offices.

Lamont said that while many state workers, such as nurses and teachers, are showing up in-person to work every day, he would like to see other state workers following suit. If you work in the Department of Labor, Lamont said, it’s easier to collaborate with others in the office. 
The renovation of the 18th-floor of The Gold Building means that Global Atlantic now occupies 47,000 square feet in the tower with almost 300 employees. The completion of the Hartford office makes it the largest of nine Global Atlantic offices. The group has over 1,500 employees across those offices.
“If you want to grow, if you want to expand, Hartford is the place to do it,” Dan O’Shea, Chief Administrative Officer for Global Atlantic, said.

Rob Arena, Co-President and Head of Individual Markets for Global Atlantic, said Hartford has been vital in Global Atlantic’s growth, and that they have the capability to hire as many as 100 more workers as a result of the expansion.
Lamont was joined at the event by Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam and commissioner-designate of the Department of Economic Development Daniel O’Keefe, who Lamont nominated in November.
Arulampalam said that it was “a great day for the city of Hartford,” and said he was excited for what the expansion means for the future of the city. Arulampalam said he wants to continue rebuilding Main Street, and building back life in the downtown area.

O’Keefe added that bringing large, successful companies to Connecticut is a great way to attract more people and help grow the city.
“The great people want to be near the great companies, and vice versa,” he said.
Lamont referenced the previous size of the city, and how he thinks, with the expansions and addition of companies like Global Atlantic, the city will see “parking lots start to turn back into downtown housing” over the next 10 years.

“It starts with great companies, with great jobs, right here doing something really important,” Lamont said.