Deputy Secretary of Commerce David A. Sampson has been tapped to head up the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) as president and chief executive officer, the trade group said today.

Mr. Sampson will continue in his present role through August and take over the reins as chief executive officer of PCI on Sept. 4.

The appointee replaces Ernst Csiszar, the former South Carolina commissioner who left the job abruptly. Mr. Csiszar had been president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners but quit in the middle of his term to take the PCI job.

Mr. Csiszar resigned in September of last year, as the organization faced divisions over what role the federal government should play in shoring up the industry in the event of a mega-catastrophe.

Since that time, June Holmes has served in the chief executive officer post on an interim basis and will return to her previous job as chief operating officer.

"After a thorough search and consideration of several excellent candidates, the PCI board felt that Secretary Sampson's unique combination of political acumen, personal integrity and management experience made him the right person to lead PCI," said PCI board Chairman Thomas Tierney.

Mr. Sampson has served as the deputy secretary of the Commerce Department since July 2005.

As the department's chief operating officer he manages a $6.5 billion budget and 38,000 employees in 13 operating units. He is also a member of President Bush's Management Council.

"He has the knowledge, relationships with political leaders at both the state and federal levels, and financial management skills that will make PCI a more effective advocate and a more efficient organization--two factors that are critical for the association and its members at this most critical time in the industry's history," Mr. Tierney said.

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PCI Picks Commerce Deputy For CEO Post

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