People – East

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced on June 22 that Ken Kobylowski, commissioner for the state’s Department of Banking and Insurance, will leave the administration over the next several weeks.

Kobylowski was one of three long-serving cabinet members, including State Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff and Health Commissioner Mary O’Dowd, whose pending departures were announced in June.

A spokesman for the Christie administration said the departures were long-planned and that their reasons for leaving the administration are “individual.”

Christie said he plans to nominate Richard J. Badolato, a partner at law firm Connell Foley in Roseland, New Jersey, to succeed Kobylowski as the next commissioner of Banking and Insurance. Badolato is expected to begin his service on Aug. 1, 2015.

Christie noted that Kobylowski – who joined the Department of Banking and Insurance as chief of staff in 2010, became acting director of banking in 2011, and was named commissioner in 2012 – protected consumers by calling for more accountability from insurers.

Christie said Kobylowski worked successfully for the enactment of laws establishing an interstate insurance compact; helped reform New Jersey’s insurance and surplus lines laws, allowing the establishment of captive insurers; and established the Bureau of Fraud Deterrence.

Kobylowski also enacted changes to the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) portion of auto insurance in 2013.

A spokesperson from the Department of Banking and Insurance said Kobylowski will be taking a position in the private sector after leaving the administration.

Benjamin Lawsky transitioned out of his role as superintendent of the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) during the week of June 15. Lawsky first announced his plan to leave the post in May. He plans to start a consulting firm, advising financial institutions on matters of technology, cybersecurity and virtual currency, according to media reports.

Meanwhile, Anthony Albanese, who served as Lawsky’s chief of staff, began serving as acting superintendent following Lawsky’s departure as the governor’s office continues its search for a permanent replacement.

Albanese previously served as a partner at law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges before joining NYDFS in 2011.

Maryland Insurance Commissioner Al Redmer, Jr., announced the appointment of Lynn Dickerson as the Maryland Insurance Administration’s new associate commissioner, Property and Casualty.

Dickerson brings years of executive-level experience in the property/casualty field, including a decade spent as vice president of operations for State Farm.

The Insurance Society of Philadelphia (ISOP) named Dianne Salter as new chair of ISOP’s Board of Directors. Salter began her two-year term on July 1. She succeeds John Sherlock, a managing partner of Willis North America in Philadelphia who served as the board chair for past two years.

Salter has more than 25 years of insurance industry experience, including her current role as executive vice president of Corporate Insurance Services for Thomas Jefferson University, Main Line Health and Magee Rehabilitation Hospital.

ISOP also announced the hiring of Beth Graber as executive director. Graber succeeds Russell Shaner who held the title of president of ISOP. Shaner will continue with ISOP as a member of its Board of Directors.

Graber joins ISOP after three years of senior-level risk management roles at Keystone Foods. Previously, Graber spent 20 years in claim management for a number of organizations, most notably Chubb.

Robbie Thompson has been hired as the new executive director for Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS). Thompson will assume the executive director role at the Minneapolis-based PLUS on July 29.

Thompson brings 18 years of management experience to PLUS, most recently as CEO of the Credit Union Association of the Dakotas in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Prior to his involvement with CUAD, Thompson served as vice president and general counsel for the Members Cooperative Credit Union and senior vice president and general counsel for the New Jersey Credit Union League.

Goji, an online independent insurance agency based in Boston, hired Steve Kezirian as the firm’s new CEO.

Kezirian succeeds interim CEO James Ermilio, who will be transitioning back to chief insurance officer and board director roles. Prior to Goji, Kezirian was CEO of IBEX Global Solutions, a provider of outsourced contact center services.

Marsh appointed David Rahr as Mid-Atlantic partnership leader based in Philadelphia. Rahr will work to ensure the delivery of Marsh’s advisory and transactional services to Marsh’s clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Rahr brings to his role 29 years of industry experience, most recently serving as Marsh’s global risk management practice leader in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Topics New Jersey