| Copyright: | A.M. Best Company, Inc. |
| Source: | BestWire Services |
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Brett J. Barratt has been named the commissioner of the Nevada Division of Insurance.
Barratt, an attorney, has extensive experience in insurance regulation, having in October 2009 been named the chief insurance assistant for the division, Nevada Department of Business & Industry Director Dianne Cornwall said in a statement. Since June, Barratt has been the acting commissioner of insurance.
In May, Nevada Insurance Commissioner Scott Kipper resigned after less than 17 months on the job, saying it was “just time for a change.” Kipper started work in Nevada on Dec. 29, 2008, two months after resigning as Oregon’s chief insurance regulator. He served for one year in Oregon after a stint as a deputy commissioner for the Louisiana Department of Insurance (BestWire, May 13, 2010).
Prior to being named acting commissioner, Barratt served as chief insurance assistant for the division since 2009. In that capacity, he was involved with virtually all aspects of state insurance regulation, the Nevada Division of Insurance said in a statement. Barratt began his tenure with the division in 2005 as insurance council and hearing officer, and since then, his duties have included being directly responsible for the division’s role in the legislative process, the division said.
A graduate of the Michigan University College of Law, Barratt earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2003.
Kipper had succeeded Alice Molasky-Arman, the longest-serving insurance commissioner in Nevada history. Molasky-Arman joined Nevada-domiciled Western Insurance Co. as senior vice president of government relations, one month after retiring from the post she held through the tenure of three governors (BestWire, Oct. 31, 2008).
Barratt “comes to us with extensive knowledge of insurance regulation as well as strong legislative expertise and legal experience,” Cornwall said in the statement. “He has already proven his ability to lead during a transition.”
(By Caroline Saucer, editor, BestWeek: Caroline.Saucer@ambest.com)
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