West Virginia Gov. Appoints Hunter Acting Insurance Commissioner

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has appointed Erin K. Hunter as acting insurance commissioner for the state, effective Jan. 25, 2019.

She takes over for Allan McVey who was appointed by Justice last month as Secretary of Administration. McVey served as insurance commissioner since March 2017.

As acting insurance commissioner, Hunter is responsible for the overall regulation of the West Virginia insurance market, as well as protection of insurance consumers.

Hunter has also served as the General Counsel for the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner since March 31, 2018 and will continue in that role as well.

After several years as a litigator in private practice, Hunter was initially hired into the Insurance Commissioner’s Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement Division in 2012 as a staff attorney. As a staff attorney, Hunter handled a myriad of insurance related investigations and administrative proceedings, including consumer complaints, tax assessment disputes, financial solvency actions, company licensing actions, market conduct actions, and insurance agent/producer licensing actions.

As General Counsel, Hunter provides legal advice to the agency and is charged with managing all legal issues affecting the agency, including general insurance regulatory policy, outside litigation, administrative actions and enforcement against regulated entities, public inquiries and outreach, state administered workers’ compensation fund claims and operations, workers’ compensation employer compliance and enforcement, state legislation and other legislative developments and rules implementation, as well as testifying before the West Virginia House of Delegates and Senate committees, staffing for various boards and council, Freedom of Information Act inquiries, and other agency personnel, administrative and contractual issues.

Hunter attended West Virginia University where she graduated with Bachelor of Arts degrees in English Literature and Political Science. She then attended West Virginia University College of Law where she received her Juris Doctorate degree in 2003.

Hunter has continued her professional development by obtaining designation as a Professional, Academy of Healthcare Management (PAHM) through America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and received a certificate in Insurance Regulation through The Institutes. Hunter is continuing her professional development training and has also undertaken various other courses regarding flood insurance, insurance law, workers compensation and insurance accounting.

Source: West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner

Topics Legislation Workers' Compensation Virginia West Virginia