- 1939
- 1959
- 1961
- 1965
- 1972
- 1980
- 1993
- 2008
- 2009
- 2012
- 2017
- 2019
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2021
- 2021
- 2022
- 2022
- 2022
- 2023
- 2023
- 2023
- 2024
1939
Brown & Brown, Inc. is Born
Adrian Brown, an agent for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, partnered with his cousin, Charles "Cov" Owen to open an insurance agency in Daytona Beach, Florida. The agency was named Brown & Owen.
1959
Joining the Family Business
Adrian Brown's son, Hyatt, completed his double major in real estate and insurance at the University of Florida. He returned to help run the family business in 1959, immediately demonstrating his understanding of the interaction between relationships and sales. Using his college connections, Hyatt helped Brown & Brown land the contract for the University of Florida’s student accident insurance.
1961
Agency Under New Ownership
Hyatt Brown buys the agency for $75,000 and his vision for the company begins to take shape. To grow the agency, Hyatt knew that he had to sell one account at a time, service it well, then build on that good reputation.
1965
First Acquisition
Brown & Brown acquires the Cook Agency of Bunnell, Florida, the first small step in a growth strategy that transforms the company.
1972
A History of Public Service
Hyatt Brown entered politics in 1972 as a part of the Florida House. He was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1978. He used his business experience to bring reforms to the state’s pension fund, overhaul the state workers’ compensation fund, and create an early childhood education program.
1980
Increasing Revenue and Margins
In an effort to increase revenue and margins, Brown & Brown reorganized to adopt a decentralized structure. All the while, they continued to acquire firms that fit the company culturally and focused on hiring highly talented teammates.
1993
Brown & Brown Merges with Poe & Associates
In April 1993, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved the merger with Poe & Associates, which ultimately became Brown & Brown, Inc. The ability to use public stock for acquisitions fueled a methodical expansion strategy based on buying middle-market insurance brokers throughout the country.
2008
First International Office
Creates initial expansion into the international marketplace by forming and opening a London-based Wholesale brokerage subsidiary, Decus Insurance Brokers, Limited.
2009
Powell Brown Succeeds Hyatt Brown
Hyatt retires but remains with the company as Chairman. The path he blazed many years ago continues to be paved by his successor, his son, J. Powell Brown.
2012
$1 Billion and Counting
Achieving $1 billion in revenues and growing, Chairman Hyatt Brown rings the opening bell.
2017
Plans for New Headquarters Announced
Senior leaders announced plans to build an all-new headquarters in downtown Daytona Beach
2019
Raising the Brown & Brown Flag
A flag-raising event was held to commemorate Brown & Brown’s new headquarters campus in Daytona Beach, Florida.
2019
Certified as a Great Place To Work®
Brown & Brown becomes Certified™ as a Great Place To Work®. This collective recognition underscores what makes Brown & Brown special—our commitment to harnessing The Power of WE, celebrating our teammates' remarkable achievements, and our unique culture that prioritizes our teammates, customers and communities.
2020
Expansion into Canada
Brown & Brown acquires Special Risk Insurance Managers, Ltd., a recognized MGA leader in Canada, establishing its initial presence in the Canadian insurance brokerage market. Special Risk operates within the Programs segment.
2021
New Headquarters & B&B Joins S&P 500
The completion of our Daytona Beach, Florida headquarters campus signifies that Brown & Brown is Built to Last™ and will serve as a cultural center for our organization forever.
2021
O’Leary Acquisition Establishes Ireland Operations
Brown & Brown creates flagship operations in the Irish insurance market by acquiring O’Leary Insurances, a family-owned company headquartered in Cork that grew to become Ireland’s largest independently owned brokerage.
2021
Brown & Brown Joins S&P 500
Brown & Brown achieves the honor of being included on the prestigious S&P 500 index, composed of the top 500 companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. This distinction further demonstrates our long-standing history of proven success and company growth, both organically and through strategic acquisitions.
2022
S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index
S&P Dow Jones Indices adds Brown & Brown to the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index that recognizes longtime dividend payers who have raised their dividend payments for at least 25 consecutive years. Brown & Brown has increased its dividend for 28 straight years (as of 2022).
2022
European Expansion Continues
Through the significant acquisitions of Global Risk Partners Limited (GRP) and BdB Limited companies, Brown & Brown strategically expands operations, welcomes new teammates, creates additional customer service opportunities throughout the U.K. and enters the Belgium and Italy markets.
2022
Investing in the Well-Being of our Teammates
Mental Health America awards Brown & Brown the 2022-2023 Platinum Level Bell Seal Award for Workplace Mental Health, recognizing our commitment to transforming our work culture, creating supportive and healthy workspaces where teammates can thrive, improving teammate mental health and promoting work-life balance.
2023
$4B in Revenue and Growing
Annual revenues surpass our intermediate goal of $4 billion for the first time in our 84-year history. Brown & Brown now sets its sights on the next goal of $8 billion.
2023
Expansion across Europe, Enter the Asia Market
With our acquisition of Kentro Capital Limited (d/b/a Nexus Underwriting and Xenia Broking), we further expand across European markets, enter the Asian insurance market and provide new capabilities, complementary skills and added resources and solutions for teammates and customers.
2023
Recertification of Workplace Awards
With a continued commitment to workplace culture, creating opportunities for teammates to build financial wealth and a relentless focus on teammate well-being, we are Certified™ by Great Place To Work® for the fifth consecutive year.
Mental Health America awards Brown & Brown, Inc. the 2023-2024 Platinum Level Bell Seal Award for Workplace Mental Health for the second year.
2024
Celebrating 85 Years in Business
What started as a small family-owned business in 1939 in Daytona Beach, Florida, has grown to a global enterprise with more than 16,000 teammates and 500+ locations worldwide. We are A Forever Company proud to be celebrating 85 years in business.
Brown & Brown Today
Brown & Brown has a long-standing history of commitment to our local communities.
The completion of our new Beach Street Campus marks an important milestone in helping to revitalize downtown Daytona Beach—where the Brown & Brown story began. Our new signature campus will serve as a cultural and training center for our organization.
We look forward to the day when teammates from across the organization can safely gather together to celebrate this historic moment.