NU Online News Service, Jan. 21, 3:00 p.m. EST

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley appointed David Black as the state's new director of the Department of Insurance.

Mr. Black served as president and CEO of Liberty Life Insurance Company in Greenville, S.C., from 2004 to 2010. He served in various capacities at the Liberty Corporation in Greenville from 1982 to 2000.

A spokesperson for the department said Mr. Black must be confirmed by the state Senate.

Gov. Haley, who was elected in November 2010 and is the state's first female governor, said in a press conference that she expects Mr. Black to help build the insurance industry back up in South Carolina, including taking another look at captives and being "customer friendly with the insurance companies that do business in South Carolina, because they too are about jobs, they're about economic development, and we are about being as pro-business in this state as we possibly can."

At the same press conference, Mr. Black said the insurance industry is "instrumental" in creating capital necessary to drive the economy forward and create jobs in the state.

If confirmed, Mr. Black will take over for Scott Richardson, who was appointed director by former Gov. Mark Sanford in 2007.

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