Brown & Brown Insurance | A Q&A With Christian Lapeyre

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Brown & Brown Insurance specializes in employee benefits, insurance capabilities and brokerage services. With the company’s history going back 80 years, Brown & Brown is currently the sixth largest insurance intermediary company in the world, with more than 200 offices across the U.S. and 8,000 teammates.

Vice President and Employee Benefits Advisor Christian Lapeyre, RHU leads the Brown & Brown Houma office. With nearly 25 years of experience in the industry, the employee benefits expert sat down with Bayou Business Monthly to discuss the key to being successful in business, leadership skills, the biggest challenge he’s faced and more.

 

What is the key to being successful in business?
To be resilient in times of adversity.


How much has your industry changed from the time you started to now?
Business has changed drastically since we started: increased regulations, lack of insurance carrier competition, technological advancement, a poor economy and challenge of rate increases in the health insurance space.

Did you see yourself in this field as a child?
No, but as a high school student, I started researching the insurance business. It was probably in my senior year when I started to get serious about making it a career.

What is your greatest accomplishment as a businessman?
Starting two businesses that have given employment to so many fine women and men of the Tri-Parish area.


If you could describe your company in one word, what word would you choose?
Giving

What are your future plans for your company?
To continue to search for the brightest and best to help the company grow.

What’s one leadership skill you feel everyone must learn?
How to motivate people.


Why would someone choose your company over another?
We have experienced and qualified staff to assist in daily servicing of the account and the resources to get the job done.

What are a few risks your customers need to be prepared for?
Prepare for changes that affect your people and business, so you are ready for tomorrow’s risk, today.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced over the years and how did you meet it?
The down economy over the last four years is the most recent. We cut expenses and prepared for less volume of business. However, it is slowly coming back.


What piece of advice do you share with your employees/coworkers regularly?
Perform with integrity.

What has been your greatest accomplishment?
My two sons and starting businesses from the ground up. •