New Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Nominated

By Arthur D. Postal
InsuranceNewsNet

WASHINGTON – Katherine “Katie” L. Wade has been nominated to be the new Connecticut Insurance Commissioner by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

Wade worked at Cigna from 1992 to 2013, most recently as the company’s chief lobbyist.

She will replace Anne Melissa Dowling, whose last day on the job is today, according to a Connecticut Insurance Department spokesperson. Dowling, the deputy commissioner, has served as acting commissioner since Tom Leonardi stepped aside in December.

According to the Hartford Courant, Wade is a former Cigna vice president and daughter-in-law of a major Democratic fundraiser in Connecticut. She will start work Tuesday in the post, pending legislative confirmation of her nomination. The job pays $160,000 annually.

Dowling joined the department as deputy commissioner in 2011. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst with more than 25 years in the financial services industry. She formerly served as chief investment officer for Connecticut Mutual and, before that, she created an institutional markets business at MassMutual. She also has held executive and management positions at Travelers Insurance and Aetna Life & Casualty.

Insurance Department spokesman Donna Tommelleo said Dowling was “grateful for the opportunity to serve” the state of Connecticut.

InsuranceNewsNet Washington Bureau Chief Arthur D. Postal has covered regulatory and legislative issues for more than 30 years. He can be reached at arthur.postal@innfeedback.com.

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