Governor Baker made the announcement during The MAIA’s Big Event
Governor Baker formally appointed acting Commissioner Gary Anderson as the new Commissioner of Insurance. Mr. Anderson replaces former Commissioner, Daniel Judson, who resigned earlier this year to join the Workers Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau of Massachusetts as its president.
Governor Baker made the formal announcement while giving the keynote address at the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents’ annual Gourmet Luncheon, held during The Big Event trade show and conference. In commenting on the appointment, Governor Baker said that Commissioner Anderson was the perfect person for the position and noted that his collaborative approach to problem-solving made him the natural selection for the position.
Concurring with that sentiment is Undersecretary John Chapman, of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR), which oversees six agencies, including the Division of Insurance.
Gary has earned the respect of the Administration, the Legislature and the industry during his tenure as First Deputy Commissioner and then as Acting Commissioner. Gary brings strong leadership to the agency and I look forward to working with him in his capacity as Commissioner.”
A little more about the new Commissioner of Insurance
Many may already be familiar with Commissioner Gary Anderson as he has been serving as Acting Commissioner since February 2017. He first joined the Division, however, in 2014 as First Deputy Commissioner, a position he held until being appointed Acting Commissioner.
According to the MAIA, which also announced Commissioner Anderson’s appointment in a Special Bulletin on the eve of the Gourmet Luncheon, his responsibilities as First Deputy Commissioner involved strategic planning and policy development for every aspect of the DOI. In addition, he was part of the Division’s decision-making and policy development in matters involving all lines of insurance with the DOI.
Prior to joining the DOI, Commissioner Anderson served as a Policy Advisor and Senior Counsel to the Office of the Massachusetts Senate President, a position he held for two years, from 2012 until 2014. His career with the Massachusetts Legislature also included a five year tenure as the General Counsel of the Financial Services Committee.
A graduate of Idaho State University, Commissioner Anderson obtained his law degree from the Albany Law School of Union University. His first foray into insurance began back in 1999 when he took a position with a regional carrier in the northwestern United States. In addition to his insurance career, the MAIA noted that Commissioner Anderson also spent some time in the private sector where he worked for a pharmaceutical company.
In commenting on his appointment, Commissioner Anderson said,
“It is an honor to continue working with the talented people of the DOI and a privilege to serve the Administration. I look forward to tackling the challenges that lie ahead as we endeavor to maintain a stable, healthy an d competitive marketplace.”
Commissioner Anderson joins a long-list of interesting individuals who have been named Commissioner of Insurance, including Massachusetts’ first Commissioner of Insurance and the founder of the Middlesex Fells, Elizur Wright, and Agency Checklists knows that it is not alone in sending our heartfelt congratulations to him on his new appointment.
