Higginbotham has created a new leadership position focused on growth and integration. Jennifer DeMello-Johnson has been appointed vice president of new partner growth and engagement, a role aimed at helping new agencies and producers build their business within the firm.
DeMello-Johnson (pictured) joins from Acrisure, where she was head of sales and growth for US Retail. She previously spent more than 10 years at Amerisure Insurance, where she helped establish and lead a subsidiary designed to support agency partners with expansion and succession planning.
Her position at Higginbotham will involve supporting agencies as they transition into the firm and helping high-producing recruits. The role is part of Higginbotham’s dual approach of pursuing both acquisitions and internal growth.
The appointment comes at a time when the US insurance distribution market is seeing steady consolidation, with competition for independent agencies and top producers intensifying. Firms are under pressure not only to acquire but also to generate growth after integration. Higginbotham’s move reflects a broader industry shift toward investing in resources that support agencies beyond the point of acquisition.
Higginbotham Chairman and CEO Rusty Reid said the position was created to provide new partners with a guide who can help them navigate the firm’s resources more effectively, rather than relying on online tools alone.
DeMello-Johnson said her 17 years in the industry have been focused on helping agencies grow both through acquisition and beyond it. She noted that this is the first time Higginbotham has introduced a role dedicated to bridging onboarding with organic growth, which she sees as an indication of the firm’s direction.
Reid added that agency producers tend to be relationship-driven and prefer direct support. He said DeMello-Johnson will serve as the point of contact for that need.
