Kentucky Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher has announced that GlennJennings will return as the state's top insurance regulatorfollowing the abrupt resignation of Martin Koetters, who resignedlast Tuesday.

Mr. Jennings, a veteran public servant, held the position ofexecutive director of Kentucky Office of Insurance on an actingbasis for the first half of last year.

Office of Insurance spokesman Mark York said Mr. Koetters gaveno reason for leaving in his brief resignation letter and did notdescribe any future plans.

Most recently, Mr. Jennings served as deputy executive directorof the Office of Charitable Gaming, which, like the Office ofInsurance, is an agency of the Environmental and Public ProtectionCabinet.

Mr. Jennings has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare field, specializing in financial management and informationprocessing.

He joined Kentucky state government in 1974 and worked in avariety of roles including deputy commissioner of the Department ofMedicaid Services.