Hogan names new insurance commissioner

Maryland is getting a new regulator of insurance companies.

Maryland's insurance commissioner, Al Redmer Jr., is leaving his position to take over the state's last-resort auto insurer, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Friday afternoon.

He'll be replaced as insurance commissioner by Kathleen A. Birrane, who has been an attorney with the DLA Piper firm and recently was appointed to the University of Maryland Medical System Board of Directors.

The medical system board was revamped in 2019 after The Baltimore Sun reported that board members, including then-mayor Catherine Pugh, had lucrative no-bid contracts with the medical system.

Before moving to private practice in 2012, Birrane was the chief lawyer for the Maryland Insurance Administration.

In a statement, Hogan said Birrane would "step into this role with virtually no learning curve."

Redmer, meanwhile, will head up the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, the state-created insurer that offers coverage for drivers who are turned down by traditional insurance companies.

Redmer, whose salary was $166,000 last year, replaces Mark McCurdy, who worked for the fund for 28 years, the last five as executive director. McCurdy announced his plan to retire last year and had been serving until a new director was appointed.

Redmer twice has served as the state's insurance commissioner, which regulates the industry in the state.

He also has worked in the private insurance industry and unsuccessfully ran for Baltimore County executive as a Republican in 2018.

Caption: Al Redmer Jr. is leaving his position as Maryland insurance commissioner.

Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun