NU Online News Service, Jan. 30, 11:25 a.m.EST

The chief executive of Daytona, Fla.-based insurance brokeragefirm Brown & Brown stepped down from his post for healthreasons, and his father has taken the leadership reins onceagain.

J. Powell Brown, president and chief executive officer, istaking a temporary leave of absence, the firm said in a filing with the Securities and ExchangeCommission. His father, former CEO J. Hyatt Brown will take over inhis absence.

Brown succeeded his father as CEO in 2009 upon J. Hyatt Brown’sretirement from that post. The elder Brown remained chairman.

Speaking to NU Online News Service, Cory Walker, chief financialofficer for Brown & Brown, says the firm “is very, veryfortunate to have Hyatt Brown” to step into Powell Brown’s placewhile he is on temporary leave. He says the company will “continuewithout missing a step.”

He says there was no date for Powell Brown’s return and wouldnot comment further on Brown’s health issue.

According to his biography on the firm’s website, Brown, 40, was elected president of Brown& Brown in 2007. He was named regional executive vice presidentin 2002. He was a profit-center leader of the company’sOrlando,Fla., retail office from 1998 to 2003. From 1995 to 1998,he served as a sales producer and later market manager in theDaytona Beach office.

Before joining Brown & Brown he was with the ContinentalInsurance Co.