Brown & Brown has appointed Stephen P. Hearn as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Hearn, an insurance industry veteran with over 35 years of experience, previously joined the company’s board of directors in August 2024. 

In his new role, Hearn will resign from the board and join the company’s operating committee, where he will leverage his extensive industry knowledge to guide the company’s growth.

According to a press release, Powell Brown, president and CEO of Brown & Brown, expressed confidence in Hearn’s leadership. “Steve has been a good friend of the firm, and of mine, for more than 20 years,” Brown said. “As we work towards our next interim revenue goal of $8 billion, we believe the timing is right to have Steve join the organization to help drive operational excellence and scale.”

In his new role, Hearn will focus on scaling operations, fostering innovation, and enhancing Brown & Brown’s talent development. His leadership will play a pivotal role as the company seeks to expand its global presence and strengthen its position as a leading provider of insurance solutions.

Hearn, who has held leadership roles at The Ardonagh Group, Corant Global, and Willis Group Holdings, is eager to apply his experience to Brown & Brown’s ambitious goals. “Brown & Brown is an incredible, dynamic organization, and I feel very fortunate that the skills and experience I have acquired during my career are viewed as force multipliers for the work already being done within the company,” Hearn stated.

As chief executive officer at various organizations, including The Ardonagh Group’s Ardonagh Specialty Holdings and Ardonagh Capital Solutions, Hearn has proven expertise in driving operational growth and guiding teams through complex business environments. 

Since its founding in 1939, Brown & Brown, Inc. has been a company providing customer-centric risk management solutions. The company operates globally, with more than 17,000 employees across 500 locations.