Tom Sullivan, former Connecticut insurance commissioner, hasbeen named senior advisor for insurance to the Board of Governorsof the Federal Reserve System.

The appointment was confirmed by a Fed spokesperson.

The spokesperson says Sullivan starts his new job June9.

Sullivan has most recently been a partner atPricewaterhouseCoopers. He is 52.

Sullivan, a Republican, stepped down under fire as insurancecommissioner in 2010 after approving a large health insurance rateincrease for Aetna that earned the ire of consumer groups and theDepartment of Health and Human Services. He served for three years,and was a former top official at the Hartford, serving in variouspositions there before being named insurance commissioner in 2007by then Gov. Jodi Rell.

His last post at the Hartford was in the property and casualtyarea, but as Connecticut insurance commissioner he chaired theNAIC's Life Insurance and Annuities Committee.

According to an e-mail to colleagues in the insurance sector,Sullivan will represent the Fed at all domestic and internationalinsurance forums.

"I am excited to be joining the Fed and there is a lot of workto be done given their statutory authority as consolidatedregulator for the designated insurer non-bank (SystemicallyImportant Financial Institution) SIFIs and the insurer owned SLHCs(Saving and Loan Holding Companies)," Sullivan says in anemail.

Connecticut's current insurance commissioner, Tom Leonardi, saysregarding the appointment, "The Federal Reserve Board has made asolid appointment in choosing Thomas Sullivan, who has keenregulatory and industry insight. He understands the importance ofstate-based regulation, and the difference between bankingand insurance. This is a great step forward that willbenefit consumers and insurers."