S.C. Insurance Director Black Quits

NU Online News Service, Jan. 2, 2:28 p.m. EST

After less than a year in office, South Carolina's Director of Insurance, R. David Black, abruptly resigned.

Black, the former president and chief executive officer of Liberty Life Insurance Co. inGreenville,S.C., left the department on Dec. 28.

In a statement from Gov. Nikki Haley's office, Black was praised for his efforts to make the South Carolina Department of Insurance "more effective and efficient," but gave no reason for his departure.

Gwendolyn Fuller McGriff, acting deputy director of financial services and general counsel for the department, was named interim director. The 16-year veteran of the department also served as acting director in 2004.

Black, 54, replaced Scott Richardson, who served as director under former Gov. Mark Sanford.

While no explanation for Black's resignation was given, several press reports suggest that the director was unhappy with the direction the state was taking in setting up health-insurance exchanges.

One report says insurance insiders in the state were baffled by the news, with one individual saying there was nothing to indicate Black was unhappy in his post.

Another report from "The Post and Courier," suggests that he resigned to avoid being caught up in an investigation about how the state spent federal funds from the health care reform act.