BRO Brown and Brown Inc

American Specialty Insurance & Risk Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE: BRO), is pleased to announce that Taffy F. Troup, AIS, CPIW, DAE, its Senior Vice President of Administration and Operations, was recently named Insurance Professional of the Year at the 68th Annual National Convention of NAIW (International).

The Insurance Professional of the Year Award recognizes excellence among those who have been employed in the insurance industry a minimum of ten years. Among the criteria considered in conferring the award are the candidate's participation in association activities, involvement in the insurance industry, education programs, industry experience, current career position, activities undertaken in the community and response to an industry related essay question.

Troup was named Insurance Professional of the Year at a regional level in March 2009 at the NAIW (International) Region IV Conference in Troy, Michigan and went on to compete on the national level with the winners representing the other eight regions of NAIW (International).

The NAIW (International) is an association of insurance professionals dedicated to the development of leaders in the insurance & risk management industries through education, networking and industry alliances. NAIW (International) represents every facet of the insurance & risk management industries. Members belong to approximately 350 local associations across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Australia, Africa, Kuwait, Bermuda, India & Mongolia.

Troup joined American Specialty, a sports, motorsports and recreation specialty insurance company, in 1990. Since the company's beginnings in 1989, it has established itself as an industry leader in the program segments it serves. Program segments include fairs, festivals, zoos, motorsports, professional, and amateur sports, amusement parks, family entertainment centers, sports complexes, convention/civic centers, and pari-mutuel racing facilities.

American Specialty, headquartered in Roanoke, Indiana, became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brown & Brown, Inc., on January 1, 2005. Brown & Brown is one of the nation's leading publicly-traded insurance services organization and is ranked by Business Insurance magazine as the United States' seventh largest independent insurance intermediary.

This press release may contain certain statements relating to future results which are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts, but instead represent only the current belief of American Specialty Insurance & Risk Services, Inc. and its parent company, Brown & Brown, Inc. (collectively, the "Company") regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. It is possible that the Company's actual results, financial condition and achievements may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results, financial condition and achievements contemplated by these forward-looking statements. Further information concerning the Company and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect the Company's financial results and condition, as well as its other achievements, are contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements made herein are made only as of the date of this release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur or of which the Company hereafter becomes aware.

Contact: Melanie Reukauf Vice President, Corporate Services American Specialty Insurance & Risk Services, Inc. (800) 245-2744