By Elise Linscott
Arizona’s new acting director of insurance has a message for insurance brokers: Arizona is open for business.
“The agency has just completed an efficiency review of our producer licensing unit,” Darren Ellingson said. “We have reduced the amount of time it takes a producer to get a license by over 50%. Within the next year, we will conduct the efficiency review for every license and permit the agency issues.”
Moving forward, Ellingson said the agency will continue its modernization work, including implementing electronic filing and payment methods (right now it’s all done on paper) and will begin to use the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s State Based Systems next year.
Ellingson seems up to the task. He has over 10 years of experience as an insurance regulator, and has served as the deputy commissioner for the Oklahoma Department of Insurance, and recently as the deputy director for the Arizona Department of Insurance, overseeing day-to-day operations since 2013. In August, he was appointed Arizona’s acting director of insurance by Governor Douglas A. Ducey.
Ellingson said the transition into his new role has been an easy one, and one that he feels prepared for. He replaces Germaine Marks, who recently resigned as director to accept a position in the private sector.
Prior to joining the Arizona DOI, Ellingson was an administrator for multiple health care facilities in Oklahoma and Arkansas. He also served as the deputy insurance commissioner, deputy receiver, and assistant general counsel for the Oklahoma Insurance Department. He is a veteran of the United States Navy.
Throughout the course of his career as an insurance regulator, Ellingson has been an active participant in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Ellingson received a bachelor of science degree in accounting and business administration from the University of Mary, Bismarck, North Dakota, and earned his JD from the Oklahoma City University School of Law, according to a press release.
When asked if he hopes to remain in his current position permanently, Ellingson responded with, “I am willing to support Governor Ducey in any way that he sees fit to use me.”
