NAIC CEO steps down after year in role

What the interim leadership means for its 2026 budget plans
NAIC CEO steps down after year in role
INSURANCE NEWS
By Jonalyn Cueto
Nov 03, 2025

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners announced that chief executive officer Gary Anderson has stepped down from his position, effective Oct. 29, with Jeff Johnston named interim CEO.

Anderson assumed the CEO role in 2024, nearly a year after his predecessor, Michael Consedine, departed the organization.

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Before joining the NAIC, Anderson served as Massachusetts insurance commissioner beginning in 2017, where he also previously held a deputy commissioner position. His career in Massachusetts insurance regulation included roles as a policy adviser and senior counsel to the state Senate president’s office.

According to NAIC, Anderson has left to pursue other professional endeavors.

Johnston, who will serve as interim CEO while maintaining his position as chief regulatory affairs officer, brings extensive institutional knowledge to the role. He has been with the NAIC for more than 25 years, according to the organization.

The leadership transition comes as the NAIC prepares for a significant budget expansion in 2026, BestWire reported. The association is projecting revenue of $178.8 million, a 7.1% increase compared with 2025. Expenses are expected to reach $186.3 million, representing a 6.3% increase over the current year.

Anderson’s departure marks the second CEO transition for the organization in about two years, following Consedine’s exit in 2023. The association has not announced a timeline for selecting a permanent successor.

In February, NAIC released its 2025 roadmap titled “Securing Tomorrow: Advancing State-Based Regulation.” The plan emphasises bolstering consumer protection, enhancing regulatory communication, modernising the risk-based capital framework and addressing emerging issues such as artificial intelligence in the insurance sector.

In August, during the NAIC’s Summer National Meeting, the association adopted a key new guideline, Actuarial Guideline 55 (AG 55), requiring insurers to apply more rigorous asset-adequacy testing for certain life-insurance reinsurance transactions.

What are your thoughts on the recent announcement? Share your insights in the comments below.

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