Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell is naming a claims administration executive, Thomas R. Sullivan, to be the state’s insurance commissioner, replacing Susan Cogswell who is stepping down from the top regulatory post she has held for almost seven years.
Sullivan, 45, most recently served as senior vice president of Specialty Risk Services, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. Specialty Risk Services is a large property-casualty third party administrator for workers’ compensation and general liability claims with 2006 revenues of $252 million. It also provides auto, general and product liability, integrated disability, claim administration and risk management services nationwide.
Sullivan graduated from Western Connecticut State University and earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut.
“He has a keen awareness of the industry as a whole — the competition, market segments, industry trends, customers, as well as the legal and regulatory environment. I am confident Tom will be an excellent insurance commissioner,” said Gov. Rell.
Sullivan’s nomination must be confirmed by state lawmakers.
Cogswell tenure
Last December, Rell accepted the resignation of Commissioner Cogswell. Cogswell is not leaving the department, however. She has accepted the position of deputy insurance commissioner and will focus her energies on health care access and affordability issues.
Cogswell was appointed by former Gov. John Rowland in June 2000 to be insurance commissioner. She was the state’s first female commissioner.
Rell kept Cogswell in the post in July, 2004 when she was sworn in to succeed Rowland, who resigned amid a corruption investigation.
During her tenure Cogswell has overseen and approved a number of industry transactions including the merger of Travelers Property Casualty Corp. with The St. Paul Companies and Prudential’s acquisition of CIGNA Life Insurance Co. In November, 2000, she approved the sale of Aetna Life Insurance Co. to Ing Groep, N.V
Topics Legislation Excess Surplus Connecticut
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