Oregon's top insurance regulator, Joel Ario, 53, is leaving hispost there to become Pennsylvania insurance commissioner, it wasannounced today.

Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell said his nominee forcommissioner has collaborated well in Oregon with companies, agentsand consumers to ensure consumers are protected, “while alsopreserving the flexibility insurers need to thrive in thefast-changing insurance marketplace.

Mr. Ario, the Oregon Insurance Division administrator, wouldsucceed Diane Koken, who served three governors and was the longestserving commissioner in modern state history in addition to servingas president of the National Association of InsuranceCommissioners.

As an NAIC officer and active member, Mr. Ario served as theoriginal point man in efforts to overhaul the market conduct systemto better protect consumers and relieve insurance companies of theadministrative burden of duplicative exams in the differentstates.

Longtime NAIC observers cannot recall a commissioner goingdirectly from one state to another, although Ed Muhl and Al Iuppaserved in top roles in New York and Maryland and Nevada and Maine,respectively.

“You figure you go from a state like Oregon, where there are fewif any large domiciled companies, to Pennsylvania, where there aremany, it has to be more of an exciting challenge,” said oneobserver.

Ms. Koken was appointed by Republican Gov. Tom Ridge and stayedon when the governorship changed parties last November at therequest of the governor while her successor was sought.

She left earlier this year and was replaced on an interim basisby Randy Rohrbaugh.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Ario was executive director of theOregon State Public Interest Research Group, or OSPIRG, where heled successful legislative and ballot campaigns for pollutionprevention, recycling and campaign finance reforms.

“This is a great opportunity for Joel but a significant loss forOregon,” said Cory Streisinger, director of the Department ofConsumer and Business Services, which contains the insurancedivision.

“Joel is respected throughout the insurance industry and byadvocates for consumer interests, and for good reason–he's been atrue leader and reformer on a range of insurance issues that affectall Oregonians,” said Mr. Streisinger.