Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has appointed Marguerite Salazar as the state's next insurance commissioner, effective Aug. 19.

Salazar will take over the role from Doug Dean, who has been serving as interim commissioner since July 8, when former Commissioner Jim Riesberg resigned the position.

Salazar most recently worked for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she was responsible for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act through the six-state Rocky Mountain Region.

As commissioner, she will focus on the operation of Connect for Health Colorado, the state's new health-insurance Marketplace, and will continue to oversee other aspects of healthcare-reform implementation.

But Salazar acknowledges that she will have to address property and casualty issues in addition to healthcare reform. “While we are working diligently to get the Marketplace set up, we as Coloradans have experienced the highest loss of property including hundreds of homes due to wildfires,” Salazar says in a statement. “The Office of the Insurance Commissioner has to address the fact that many homeowners were without adequate insurance and I plan to address that issue immediately.”

Salazar began her career as a mental health therapist and later served more than 20 years as the president and CEO of Valley-Wide Health Systems in Alamosa, Colo.

Hickenlooper says, “Marguerite Salazar's deep roots in Colorado and small-business acumen will serve her well in this new role.”

Special Reports /

Colorado Names Former HHS Regional Director as Insurance Commissioner

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