Brown & Brown, Inc. has appointed Joia M. Johnson, a retired executive from Hanesbrands Inc., to its board of directors.
Johnson, who retired from Hanes in 2021, held several executive positions during her tenure, including chief administrative officer, chief legal officer, general counsel and corporate secretary.
She brings decades of leadership experience across multiple industries to her new role with Brown & Brown.
H. Palmer Proctor, Jr., Brown & Brown’s lead independent director and chair of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, said the board will benefit from Johnson’s extensive expertise.
“Joia brings not only a remarkable breadth and depth of experience, but also a keen ability to navigate complexity with the wisdom earned through years of leadership. As a well-rounded leader—with service on several publicly traded boards—she excels at confidently balancing strategic vision with practical execution,” Proctor said in a press release.
J. Powell Brown, the company’s chief executive officer, also welcomed Johnson to the board, emphasizing her potential contribution to the firm’s long-term strategy. “As a dynamic and growing Forever Company, we remain focused on driving long-term value for our shareholders.”
“We believe Joia’s extensive and unique experience across multiple industries will bring meaningful impact to our talented board and help guide Brown & Brown through the next phase of our growth journey. We are thrilled to welcome her to our team,” Brown said.
At Hanes, Johnson’s responsibilities included oversight of legal, human resources, corporate social responsibility, and other administrative functions. She joined the apparel company in 2007 and served as chief administrative officer from 2016 to 2021.
Before joining Hanes, Johnson worked at RARE Hospitality International, a publicly traded restaurant franchise operator, where she served as executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary from 2001 until 2007.
In addition to her new role at Brown & Brown, Johnson serves on the boards of several publicly traded companies. She is a director of Global Payments Inc., where she sits on the compensation committee and the governance and nominating committee.
She also serves on the board of Sylvamo Corporation, contributing to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee as well as the Management Development and Compensation Committee. Her ongoing work reflects a continued commitment to corporate leadership beyond her executive career.
Brown & Brown, headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, is one of the largest insurance brokerage firms in the United States. The company delivers a range of insurance solutions through a network of more than 700 locations and employs over 23,000 professionals globally.
Founded in 1939, Brown & Brown has pursued growth through a mix of acquisitions and service expansion.