Brown & Brown Chief Takes Leave for Health Reasons

Powell Brown, president and chief executive officer for global insurance agency Brown & Brown, has taken a temporary leave of absence citing an undisclosed health reason.

Hyatt Brown, former company CEO from 1961 until he semi-retired in 2009, will take Powell Brown’s place. Hyatt Brown has been chairman of the company since 1994.

The company announced the change in a filing with the federal Securities Exchange Commission.

The Dayton Beach, Fla.-based company is one of the country’s largest independent insurance agencies with 231 offices in 36 states and one in England. The company employees more than 6,000 workers.