The members of the Washington, D.C.-based National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) elected their officers for 2016 over the weekend.

Missouri Insurance Director John M. Huff is NAIC's new president.

He is a native of Potosi, Mo., and was appointed director of the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration by Gov. Jay Nixon on Feb. 6, 2009. In September 2010, Huff was appointed to the U.S. Financial Stability Oversight Council by NAIC. He served two terms on the council and was the initial state insurance regulator appointed. Before entering public service, Huff spent 11 years as an executive with Swiss Re and GE Insurance Solutions.

Kentucky Insurance Commissioner Sharon P. Clark is NAIC's new president-elect.

She was appointed Kentucky's Commissioner of the Department of Insurance in July 2008 and was reappointed to the post in July 2012. Clark was the first director of Kentucky's Consumer Protection and Education Division, a position she held for five years. She also chairs the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange Advisory Board and is a member of the Kentucky Group Health Insurance Board. Clark previous held positions with the Kentucky House of Representatives, the Kentucky Public Service Commission, and the state's former Workforce Development Cabinet.

Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Ted Nickel is NAIC's new vice president.

He was appointed by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker as Commissioner of Insurance. Prior to his appointment, Nickel worked for almost 18 years as director of governmental and regulatory affairs for Church Mutual Insurance Co. in Merrill, Wis.

Tennessee Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak is NAIC's new secretary-treasurer.

She was appointed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam to lead the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance on January 12, 2011. McPeak is the first woman to serve as chief insurance regulator in more than one state. She brings to the department nearly 20 years of legal and administrative experience in state government. Before being named commissioner, McPeak practiced as counsel to the insurance practice group of law firm Burr & Forman LLP. She also served as the executive director of the Kentucky Office of Insurance (KOI). Before her appointment as executive director, she spent nine years as an attorney for the KOI, the final five as general counsel. She also served as general counsel to the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet.

The newly elected officers will assume their duties Jan. 1.

2016 zone officers

NAIC members also elected zone officers for 2016:

Northeastern Zone

  • Susan L. Donegan — chair, Vermont.

  • Eric A. Cioppa — vice chair, Maine.

  • Al Redmer Jr. — secretary, Maryland.

Southeastern Zone

  • Jim L. Ridling — chair, Alabama.

  • Wayne Goodwin — vice chair, North Carolina.

  • Mike Chaney — secretary, Mississippi.

Midwestern Zone

  • Bruce R. Ramge — chair, Nebraska.

  • Nick Gerhart — vice chair, Iowa.

  • John D. Doak — secretary, Oklahoma.

Western Zone

  • Dave Jones — chair, California.

  • Laura N. Cali — vice chair, Oregon.

  • David Mattax — secretary, Texas.

NAIC is the standard-setting and regulatory support organization created and governed by the chief insurance regulators from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories.

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