BROWN & BROWN, INC.

Brown & Brown was founded in 1939 as a small insurance agency in Daytona Beach, Florida, by J. Adrian Brown, partnering with his cousin Charles "Cov" Owen. Originally named Brown & Owen, the firm quickly expanded its customer base in central Florida. J. Adrian's son, J. Hyatt Brown, joined the agency in 1959, bought the company and became CEO in 1961, and played a key role in its growth and modernization.

In 1980, Brown & Brown restructured to adopt a decentralized model, aiming to boost revenue and profit margins by giving more authority to local teams. This approach encouraged an entrepreneurial culture across the company.

In 1983, the firm changed its name to Brown & Brown, Inc. to reflect its focus on national expansion.

In 1993, the company merged with Poe & Associates. Also in 1993, the company went public, listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BRO. The use of public stock for acquisitions enabled a deliberate expansion strategy focused on acquiring middle-market insurance brokers nationwide.

J. Hyatt Brown retired as CEO in 2009, but remains with the company as chairman. He was succeeded as CEO by his son J. Powell Brown. Subsequently, the company has pursued aggressive acquisition strategies and organic growth. It surpassed $1 billion in revenue in 2012. It joined the S&P 500 index in 2021.

In 2021, new headquarters were completed at Daytona Beach, Florida, featuring an 11-story building on 13 acres facing the Halifax River.

In 2021, Brown & Brown was added to the S&P 500 index following an announcement by S&P Dow Jones Indices, effective September 20, 2021.

In 2022, Brown & Brown was added to the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which includes S&P 500 companies that have increased their dividend payments for at least 25 consecutive years.

In 2023, Brown & Brown received the Platinum Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health from Mental Health America for its workplace mental health initiatives.