Hartford Specialty Risk Exec Sullivan to be Conn. Insurance Chief

Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell is naming a claims administration executive, Thomas R. Sullivan, to be the state’s insurance commissioner, replacing Susan Cogswell who is stepping down from the top regulatory post she has held for almost seven years.

Sullivan, 45, most recently served as senior vice president of Specialty Risk Services, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. Specialty Risk Services, LLC, is a large property-casualty third party administrator for workers’ compensation and general liability claims with 2006 revenues of $252 million. It also provides auto, general and product liability, integrated disability, claim administration and risk management services nationwide.

Sullivan resides in Southington. He graduated from Western Connecticut State University and earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut.

“He has a keen awareness of the industry as a whole – the competition, market segments, industry trends, customers, as well as the legal and regulatory environment. I am confident Tom will be an excellent insurance commissioner,” said Gov. Rell.

“Throughout his career, he has earned a reputation as a leader and
innovator who has consistently exceeded goals and objectives in client retention, profitability and customer service. Tom’s knowledge and experience will serve Connecticut and this key industry very well,” she added.

Sullivan’s nomination must be approved by state lawmakers.

Last December, Rell accepted the resignation of Commissioner Cogswell and said she would name a replacement within a few weeks.

Cogswell is not leaving the department, however. She has accepted the position of deputy insurance commissioner and will focus her energies on health care access and affordability issues.

Cogswell, a Torrington resident, was appointed by former Gov. John Rowland in June 2000 to be insurance commissioner. She was the state’s first female commissioner.

Rell kept Cogswell in the post in July, 2004 when she was sworn in to succeed her three-time Republican running mate, former Gov. Rowland, who resigned amid a corruption investigation.

Prior to becoming commissioner, Cogswell served for nine years as a Republican Torrington city councilman while also working as the Connecticut Insurance Department’s chief of staff.

During her tenure she has overseen and approved a number of industry transactions including the merger of Travelers Property Casualty Corp. with The St. Paul Companies and Prudential’s acquisition of CIGNA Life Insurance Co. In November, 2000, she approved the sale of Aetna Life Insurance Co. to Ing Groep, N.V.

Source: Gov. Rell’s Office