---
title: Argo
description: testing
image: https://blog.topgrading.com/hubfs/cs4-removebg-preview.png
---

[Go Back Up](https://blog.topgrading.com/case-studies/argo#top)

[Skip to Content](https://blog.topgrading.com/case-studies/argo#body)

[![](https://blog.topgrading.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/Logo%20-%20homepage.webp?width=339&height=68&name=Logo%20-%20homepage.webp)](https://topgrading.com/)

Toggle Menu

- [Human Capital Governance](https://topgrading.com/human-capital-governance)
- [Solutions](https://topgrading.com/solutions)
  
  Toggle children for Solutions
  
   Main Menu (Press to Return) 
  
  \> Solutions 
  
    - [Hiring](https://topgrading.com/hiring)
    - [Leadership](https://topgrading.com/leadership)
    - [Organization Design](https://topgrading.com/organization)
- [Private Equity](https://topgrading.com/private-equity)
- [Workshop](https://topgrading.com/topgradingworkshop)
- [Our Firm](https://topgrading.com/our-firm)
- Insights
  
  Toggle children for Insights
  
   Main Menu (Press to Return) 
  
  \> Insights 
  
    - [Blog](https://blog.topgrading.com/blog)
    - [Case Studies](https://blog.topgrading.com/case-studies)
    - [Podcast](https://blog.topgrading.com/podcast)
    - [Books](https://topgrading.com/books)
    - [eGuide](https://topgrading.com/eguide)

- [Schedule a Call](https://topgrading.com/meetings/andywilliams-topgrading/30-minute-meeting)
- [Schedule a Call](https://meetings.hubspot.com/chris-mursau/privateequity) [Schedule a Call](https://meetings.hubspot.com/chris-mursau/privateequity)

# Argo

[Financial Services](https://blog.topgrading.com/case-studies/tag/financial-services) [501+ employees](https://blog.topgrading.com/case-studies/tag/501-employees) Sep 10, 2024, 2:22:59 AM [Topgrading](https://blog.topgrading.com/case-studies/author/topgrading) %

![](https://blog.topgrading.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cs4-removebg-preview.png?width=1000&name=cs4-removebg-preview.png)

Since 1957, Argo has worked with independent agents, wholesale brokers and retail brokerage partners to become a leader in the international specialty insurance marketplace.

When Mark Watson took over the company in 2000, the stock had tanked. Watson approached Brad Smart at a YPO presentation saying, **"I want to create a successful company."**

Number of Employees : 1300

Industry : Global Insurance

Highlights :

- Improved from **51% to 96% A Players hired and promoted** in management (AVP and above)
- **15%+ compounded stock performance** since Topgrading
- Sales increase **from $200 million** in 2000 **to $3 billion** in 2020

### Solutions and Results

Argo contracted Topgrading to:

- License the Topgrading software platform
- Train all managers in the [hiring methodology](https://topgrading.com/what-we-do/)
- Over time, certify internal trainers for **Topgrading train-the-trainer**
- Conduct **Topgrading Interviews of candidates for senior positions**, where the cost of a hiring mistake was extremely high
- Periodically[**assess and coach the top team**](https://topgrading.com/candidate-assessment/)

Use of the [Topgrading](https://topgrading.com/our-story/) methodology led to an **improvement in Argo's hiring and promoting from 51% to 96% high performers.** The improved talent drove the company's success, leading to sales increase from $200 Million in 2000 to $3 Billion in 2020, and 15%+ compounded stock performance since Topgrading began.

*"Argo is more successful as a company because Topgrading has resulted in a higher percentage of A Players."*

\- Mark Watson, CEO

### Quotes from Interview with CEO Mark Watson

- We’re a capital intensive company, but a lot of our capital is intellectual capital, our people, and **so much of our success is making sure we have the very best people that we can have**.
- **We use [Topgrading at all levels](https://topgrading.com/hiring-all-levels/) of the organization**. It starts with me. I’ve done Topgrading Interviews on every single employee that reports to me directly — even incumbent employees on my management team. I expect all managers to do the same with their subordinates and cascade it all the way down through the organization.
- Topgrading taught us to **measure the costs of all mis-hires**, and of course we’ve had a few, even after launching Topgrading. The financial costs and the time wasted are always way above what we initially thought. That exercise motivates us to stick with the Topgrading disciplines.
- With Topgrading, you don’t need as many people. Instead of 12 on a team you might just need 8 people – and at least 7 are [A Players](https://topgrading.com/resources/blog/who-are-your-a-players/). **Not only are As more productive individually but they work better as team players**. And A teams are happier – they like working with one another and like being in a successful company, where there are growth opportunities.
- Just because somebody is a C Player in the role they're in – assuming they’re committed to the company – doesn’t mean that you can’t **retool them into another role in the company where they would be an A Player**. We use Topgrading methods to assess and coach a lot of people, and not only have we transferred some Bs and Cs into jobs where they became As, a few Bs and Cs were coached and became As in their current job.
- **We Topgrade in all the countries we’re in**. Initially there is resistance but as soon as they see the results, managers everywhere get on board.

Schedule a Call

[Contact Us](https://topgrading.com/meetings/andywilliams-topgrading/andy-williams-schedule-a-call-meeting)

![logo-footer](https://blog.topgrading.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo%20(1).png?width=249&height=50&name=logo%20(1).png "logo-footer")

- 100 S Saunders Rd Ste 150 Lake Forest, IL 60045
- (847) 244-5544
- [info@topgrading.com](mailto:info@topgrading.com)

[Contact Us](https://share.hsforms.com/1LwWWJ3v1RxK57ZpNXI-9Lwclbe4)

#### Subscribe to Our Newsletter

##### Quick Links

- [Human Capital Governance](https://topgrading.com/human-capital-governance)
- [Solutions](https://topgrading.com/solutions)
- [Private Equity](https://topgrading.com/private-equity)
- [Our Firm](https://topgrading.com/our-firm)
- [Leadership](https://topgrading.com/leadership)
- [Hiring](https://topgrading.com/hiring)
- [Organizational Design](https://topgrading.com/organization)
- [Topgrading in the AI Era Workshop](https://topgrading.com/foolproof-hiring)
- [Case Studies](https://blog.topgrading.com/case-studies)

##### Website Policy

- [Privacy Policy](https://topgrading.com/privacy-policy)
- [Cookie Policy](https://topgrading.com/cookies-policy)

##### [Client Portal](https://client.topgrading.com/membership-login/)

Test

[Refer a Company](https://share.hsforms.com/140pKFt8pReaZH4Bp7SuHigclbe4)

© 2026 Topgrading. All Right Reserved.

- <https://www.linkedin.com/company/topgrading-inc->
- <https://www.facebook.com/topgrading/>

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Topgrading",
    "url" : "https://blog.topgrading.com/case-studies/author/topgrading"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2025-03-18T17:15:45.072Z",
  "datePublished" : "2024-09-10T07:22:59.000Z",
  "headline" : "Argo",
  "image" : [ "https://blog.topgrading.com/hubfs/cs4-removebg-preview.png" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.topgrading.com/case-studies/argo",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blog.topgrading.com/hubfs/Logos/Logo%20-%20homepage.webp"
    },
    "name" : "Topgrading, Inc."
  }
}
```