New York Insurance Department Superintendent Eric R. Dinalloyesterday announced new leadership positions within the New YorkState Insurance Department.

In a statement, Mr. Dinallo said of the appointments, "In thefirst six months of this administration, we have successfully begunto tackle problems previously seen as intractable, includingbreaking the impasse at Ground Zero, reforming the workers'compensation system, and revamping the New York LiquidationBureau."

He added that those appointed "have played an important role inthis success. Congratulations to them, and I look forward toworking with them as they assume their new portfolios."

The following individuals were named:

o Hampton Finer, Ph.D., is now deputy superintendent for ratesand competition, responsible for directing rate review activitiesand managing department policies for maintaining stable andcompetitive insurance markets. He joined the department in January2007 as senior policy advisor and chief economist. He previouslydirected economic analysis activities at the New York AttorneyGeneral's Office.

o Steven Nachman has been named deputy superintendent for fraudand consumer services, and will oversee the bureaus handlingconsumer complaints, licensing and fraud investigations. Mr.Nachman was assistant deputy superintendent and chief complianceofficer of the New York Liquidation Bureau since April 2007, andpreviously was an assistant attorney general in the New YorkAttorney General's office.

o Louis W. Pietroluongo, who previously served the department asdeputy superintendent, first deputy superintendent and, in January2007, acting superintendent, is now deputy superintendent fordisaster preparedness and business continuity planning.

He is responsible for the department's preparedness systems fornatural disasters, terrorist incidents and influenza pandemics, andalso for emergency communications, evacuations and operations.Additionally, he will be incident commander in times of emergencyor disaster. Mr. Pietroluongo currently serves on the Financial andBanking Information Infrastructure Committee, New York State'sHomeland Security Committee, New York State Disaster PreparednessCommission, and is the department liaison with the State EmergencyManagement office and the New York City Office of EmergencyManagement.

o Christopher F. Rulon is deputy superintendent for operations,responsible for handling the daily operations of the department. Hejoined the department in June 1998, and most recently served asdirector of administration and operations.