Midwest Insurance Commissioners on the Move

Several Midwest states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and North Dakota, experienced transitions among insurance commissioners as 2016 folded into 2017.

Illinois

Gov. Bruce Rauner named Jennifer Hammer to head of the Illinois Department of Insurance to replace Anne Melissa Dowling, who is returning to the private sector.

Hammer has extensive experience in healthcare law and policy. She currently is the deputy chief of staff for policy in the Office of the Governor. Previously, she was the policy adviser for Healthcare and Human Services and special counsel to the governor. In this role, Hammer coordinated all healthcare-related agencies, including the Department of Insurance. She oversaw the migration of Get Covered Illinois as an independent commission into the insurance department.

Previously, Hammer worked at the Illinois Chamber of Commerce as the executive director of the Healthcare Council and vice president and legal counsel of Government Affairs. She also worked for Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Bodewes, P.C. as an attorney where she practiced insurance defense law, healthcare law, business law, and advised clients on legislation like the Affordable Care Act.

Rauner praised Dowling’s service as director.

“Director Dowling has worked diligently to transform the Department of Insurance to better protect the rights of Illinois’ residents, while championing a growth environment for businesses,” Rauner said in a statement released by the governor’s office. “Director Dowling’s commitment to protecting taxpayers showed throughout her tenure. On behalf of the people of Illinois, I thank Director Dowling for her service.”

Dowling has served as acting director of the insurance department in Illinois since mid-2015. She previously was deputy commissioner at the Connecticut Insurance Department.

Indiana

Indiana’s new Gov. Eric Holcomb has reappointed Stephen Robertson as the commissioner of the state’s Department of Insurance.

Robertson was appointed by Gov. Mitch Daniels as commissioner of the department in 2010 and was reappointed in 2013 by Gov. Mike Pence. Robertson joined the department in 2008. He began his insurance career as general counsel for the Nebraska Department of Insurance.

Prior to joining the Indiana Department of Insurance, he worked for nearly a decade with Conseco Insurance Group as a senior vice president.

Iowa

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad tapped Doug Ommen to serve as interim insurance commissioner.

Ommen has served as deputy insurance commissioner in Iowa since 2013. Prior to his service in Iowa, Ommen served as Missouri’s insurance commissioner under Governor Matt Blunt.

Ommen succeeds former Iowa Insurance Commissioner Nick Gerhart, who is joining Des Moines-based FBL Financial Group Inc. as chief administrative officer.

Gerhart left the Iowa Insurance Department in late December 2016. He had been serving as Iowa’s insurance commissioner since February 2013.

Prior to his appointment, he worked at Sammons Financial Group and American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company.

FBL Financial Group’s operating subsidiary, Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co., underwrites and markets a broad range of life insurance and annuities to individuals and businesses. FBL Financial Group manages all aspects of two Farm Bureau affiliated property/casualty insurance companies for a management fee.

North Dakota

North Dakota’s new insurance commissioner, Jon Godfread, was sworn in on Jan. 3. He succeeds Adam Hamm, who decided not to seek re-election.

Hamm was appointed insurance commissioner in October 2007 by then-Gov. John Hoeven to finish the term of incumbent Republican Jim Poolman. Hamm served as president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2014.

Godfread, who was elected to the commissioner’s post in November 2016, previously served as vice president of government affairs at the Greater North Dakota Chamber.

Godfread has appointed Jeff Ubben as deputy insurance commissioner and Marcy Ost as executive assistant. Both Ubben and Ost are insurance department veterans.

Ubben has served as general counsel for the insurance department for the past four years and will continue in that role in addition to his duties as deputy until a replacement is hired.

He is a North Dakota native and earned his law degree from the University of North Dakota in 2006. Ubben also previously served as an assistant state’s attorney for Burleigh County.

Ost has served the insurance department as executive assistant including fulfilling public information duties since 2014. Prior to joining the insurance department, Ost worked in the North Dakota Legislative Council.

Topics Illinois Iowa