Nickel Named Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has appointed Ted Nickel, an insurance company veteran, as commissioner of insurance and Dan Schwartzer, an association executive, as deputy commissioner.

Nickel replaces Sean Dilweg.

Nickel has spent nearly his entire career in the insurance industry working primarily in the property/casualty insurance business. For almost 18 years, he has worked in a variety of roles, including director of governmental and regulatory affairs for Church Mutual.

Nickel has served as chair of the board of directors of the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance and as a member of the board of directors of the Wisconsin Insurance Security Fund.

His national work includes serving as a member of the Oklahoma Property Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association and national trade association participation as a member of the Legal and Government Affairs Committee of the Property Casualty Insurance Association of America.

In 1999, Nickel ran unsuccessfully for the Wisconsin State Assembly. Prior to Church Mutual, he worked for Gov. Tommy Thompson.

Schwartzer owned his own association management and government relations firm that worked with trade associations from a variety of industries. He served as executive director for the Wisconsin Employee Benefit Advisors Association, which represents insurance agents throughout Wisconsin, and executive director for the Wisconsin PPO Association, which represents PPO Health Plans.

He was also executive director for the Wisconsin Economic Development Association, as well as executive director for the Independent Business Association of Wisconsin.

Schwartzer is a Wisconsin-licensed intermediary holding a property, casualty, life, accident and health insurance license. He has more than 25 years of experience in insurance, health care financing and business issues, and more than 12 years experience in association management.

Topics Wisconsin