JOHNSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — One of Rhode Island’s largest companies is changing its name. But not too much.

FM Global, the 189-year-old commercial insurer, announced Wednesday the company is rebranding as simply “FM,” which executives said will provide a more cohesive identity for its various lines of business.

“Our new brand positions us collectively for our next wave of success by clarifying who we are and what we stand for: protection, partnership and progress,” Chairman and CEO Malcolm Roberts said in a statement.

While FM traces its roots back to 1835, the name “FM Global” was adopted in 1999 due to the merge of several mutual insurers, with FM short for “Factory Mutual Insurance Company.” Today the company operates worldwide and has multiple divisions, covering everything from boilers to renewable energy projects.

The insurer posted a profit of $3.7 billion on $7.3 billion of revenue in 2023, according to its annual report. It has almost 5,900 employees worldwide, including nearly 1,500 in Rhode Island, most of them at its Johnston headquarters and a research campus in Glocester.

“We believe that by uniting our businesses under the FM brand, we will streamline and strengthen our market position, which will allow us to provide an even better experience for our current clients and reach more organizations that share our belief that the majority of property loss is preventable,” Roberts said.

The company plans to highlight the new brand, which also includes a new titanium-style logo, as sponsor of a new LPGA Tour event that will take place at TPC Boston in Norton next month.

Ted Nesi ( tnesi@wpri.com ) is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesi’s Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Twitter , Threads and Facebook .

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Nesi's Notes

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.