La. Looks To Michigan FAIR Plan GM To Head Last-Resort Insurer

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has turned to the head of the Michigan FAIR Plan to take over Louisiana's last-resort insurer.

Richard Robertson, general manager of the Michigan Basic Property Insurance Association (Michigan FAIR Plan) in Detroit, could officially be appointed next month when the board of Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. meets. Commissioner Donelon said he will meet with the board today to discuss Mr. Robertson's potential compensation package.

Commissioner Donelon said Mr. Robertson, who has held his current post for 20 years, will be at today's meeting.

The insurance commissioner's first choice to run Citizens, Charles M. Angell of Alabama, chose not to take the position for personal, family reasons Mr. Angell is the acting deputy commissioner of the Alabama Department of Insurance.

Commissioner Donelon said Mr. Robertson has implemented several cost-containment initiatives at the Michigan FAIR Plan.

Louisiana Citizens in the past had troubles with misappropriations and mismanagement until John Wortman was appointed to lead the state-run residual insurer in April 2007.

Mr. Wortman is retiring but will remain with Citizens to ensure a smooth transition.

Citizens is a combination of the Louisiana FAIR and Beach plans and has about 127,000 policies. The Michigan FAIR Plan had about 40,800 policies as of the end of 2008.