Texas Regulator to Step Down; New Wisconsin Commissioner Named
January 7, 2011 by Sean P. Carr
AUSTIN, Texas January 06 (BestWire) — Texas Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin will leave office after five-and-a-half years when his term ends Feb. 1.
Geeslin notified newly re-elected Gov. Rick Perry that he does not wish to be reappointed to the post. He said it was time “for someone else to lead” and also mentioned family considerations in a resignation letter to Perry.
Geeslin served as deputy commissioner for policy at the Texas Department of Insurance from January 2003 until his June 2005 appointment as commissioner. He oversaw the implementation of major insurance reforms passed by the state Legislature in 2003 (BestWire, June 8, 2005),
Geeslin’s departure is one of a rolling series of changes among state regulatory leaders in the aftermath of the November general election.
In Wisconsin, new Gov. Scott Walker appointed Ted Nickel as the state’s insurance commissioner, effective Jan. 3. Walker replaced Sean Dilweg, who served under former Gov. Jim Doyle.
Prior to his appointment, Nickel was director of governmental and regulatory affairs for Church Mutual Insurance Co. of Merrill, Wis., a provider of insurance to churches, denominational offices, schools, camps and senior living communities. Nickel spent 18 years at the insurer, for which his father is director emeritus.
Nickel served on the board of directors of the Wisconsin Insurance Security Fund and on the Oklahoma Property Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association. He was also a member of the Legal and Government Affairs Committee of the Property Casualty Insurance Association of America.
“Compliance with insurance regulations is a complex task for companies,” Nickel said in a statement. “Gov. Walker wants to ensure that these regulations protect consumers while not overburdening companies.”
(By Sean P. Carr, Washington Bureau Manager: sean.carr@ambest.com)BN-NJ-01-06-2011 1644 ET #