Acting Nevada Commissioner Named, Is Fourth Insurance Chief in Less Than Three Years

Amy Parks will serve as acting Nevada insurance commissioner beginning Aug. 12 upon the resignation of Brett Barratt from the position.

Barratt, who stepped into the commissioner's post in June 2010, is moving out of state for personal reasons, the Nevada Department of Business and Industry said in a statement. An insurance division employee since 2005, Barratt served as chief insurance assistant prior to being named commissioner (BestWire, July 8, 2010).

The outgoing commissioner recently praised new state captive insurance reform legislation, saying it will ease administrative burdens on captives incorporated in Nevada and will make the state a more competitive player in the captive insurance marketplace. Nevada had lost ground in recent years as more states entered the captive market, he said (BestWire, July 1, 2011).

Parks is currently the Division of Insurance's chief counsel. She will serve as acting commissioner until a final appointment is made, Business and Industry Director Terry Johnson said. Recruitment of a new insurance commissioner will begin immediately, he said.

Parks will become the state's third insurance commissioner in just over a year and its fourth in less than three years.

Barratt's predecessor, Scott Kipper, served for 17 months. Kipper succeeded Alice Molasky-Arman, who served under three governors while becoming the longest-serving insurance commissioner in Nevada history.

(By Sean P. Carr, Washington Bureau Manager: [email protected])