GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES INSURANCE COMMISSIONER ANDREW MAIS RETIRING FROM STATE SERVICE, JOSH HERSHMAN NOMINATED AS SUCCESSOR

The following information was released by the office of the Governor of Connecticut:

Governor Ned Lamont today announced that Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais will be retiring from state service effective November 28, 2025.

Additionally, the governor announced that he is nominating Josh Hershman to succeed Commissioner Mais. Hershman will serve in the role in an interim capacity beginning December 12, 2025, and then Governor Lamont will formally submit his nomination to the General Assembly for its consideration at the start of the 2026 regular session in February.

Connecticut has one of the largest insurance industries of any state in the nation, and Commissioner Mais has actively worked to achieve the crucial balance necessary to ensure that consumers are protected and have access to affordable and reliable insurance coverage, while at the same time supporting the continued growth of this sector of our economy, Governor Lamont said. I appreciate Andys dedicated years of service to the people of Connecticut, and I wish him the very best. Josh Hershmans experience and broad understanding of the insurance industry and the regulatory framework that it operates within will serve him well as commissioner. I appreciate him for agreeing to serve in this leadership role.

Commissioner Mais has served as the head of the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) since February of 2019. He just recently completed his term as president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the nationwide regulatory support organization that provides expertise, data, and analysis for insurance commissioners to effectively regulate the insurance industry and protect consumers. Commissioner Mais also held a top leadership position at the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), the global standard-setting organization for insurance regulation, serving as vice chair of its executive committee.

During his tenure at CID, Commissioner Mais focused many of his efforts on ensuring that Connecticut consumers have the resources they need to adequately protect themselves and their properties and mitigate their risk. This includes through the establishment of the Connecticut Severe Weather Mitigation and Resiliency Advisory Council in 2024, which is focused on helping homeowners and businesses maintain more resilient properties.

Serving the people of Connecticut under the leadership of Governor Lamont has been the highlight of my career, Commissioner Mais said. I have had the privilege of working with some of the best regulators in the world here at the Connecticut Insurance Department, who have all dedicated themselves to protecting the consumers in this state. It has been a privilege to work with this governor and these regulators who put consumers first no matter the challenge. I am delighted by the appointment of Josh Hershman as the next commissioner, and I am confident in his leadership as demonstrated during his previous tenure at the department, especially during COVID.

Hershman currently serves as CEO of the Immigrant Life Insurance Company of America, a Connecticut-domiciled and wholly owned subsidiary of IDT Corporation, where he helped build an admitted-market life insurance carrier designed specifically to close the coverage gap faced by immigrant families. He also serves as executive director of openIDL, a Linux Foundation project modernizing data exchange through creating data standards across the insurance industry. In addition, he advises multiple organizations through HIJ Advising LLC, offering expertise in insurance solutions, regulatory compliance, legal strategy, and operational efficiency.

From 2019 to 2022, Hershman was deputy commissioner and chief operating officer of CID, leading initiatives that explore AIs impact on insurance, championing data-driven regulatory modernization, and supporting innovation across the industry. Prior to his public service, he practiced law with a focus on complex business planning and litigation.

I am honored to lead the Connecticut Insurance Department at this pivotal moment, Hershman said. Commissioner Andy Mais has set a strong foundation of consumer protection and industry stewardship, and I look forward to building on that progress. Our focus will be protecting consumers, strengthening market stability, and supporting a vibrant, forward-looking insurance industry that delivers real value for the people of Connecticut.

Hershman is a long-serving member of the Guilford Fire Commission in Guilford, where he lives with his wife Sarah and three daughters, Harper, Isabel, and Josie.