Kitzman Appointed as Next Texas Insurance Commissioner

Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced the appointment of Eleanor Kitzman of Austin as Texas Insurance Commissioner, effective Aug. 15, 2011, for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2013.

She will replace Mike Geeslin, who announced earlier this year that he was not interested in serving another term as commissioner.

Kitzman is the outgoing executive director of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board, and is past director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance. She is also a former clerk for the Texas Supreme Court, and a past associate at Akin, Gump, Strauss and Feld. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and South Carolina Bar Association.

“I’m confident that Eleanor’s expertise in the insurance industry will make her a strong advocate for insurance customers in Texas, and I appreciate her willingness to serve the state in this capacity,” Gov. Perry said. “I’m thankful for Mike Geeslin’s service as insurance commissioner over the past several years, where he worked to protect Texans by ensuring that insurance is available and provided at fair rates, and look forward to continuing this strong leadership at TDI with Eleanor’s appointment.”

“Eleanor Kitzman appears to be uniquely qualified to serve as Texas insurance commissioner,” said Mark Hanna, spokesman for the Insurance Council of Texas. “Her experience in running the insurance commission in South Carolina as well as representing insurers and managing insurance companies should give her a jump start in assessing the Texas marketplace. We look forward to building a good working relationship and offering our support for Commissioner Kitzman as she tackles one of the toughest jobs in Texas government.”

The American Insurance Association also congratulated in Kitzman on her nomination as commissioner.

“Ms. Kitzman’s significant insurance background makes her well-qualified to be the next commissioner of the Texas Department of Insurance,” said Fred C. Bosse, AIA Southwest region vice president. “Texas is a large state with diverse insurance needs. Her tenure as South Carolina’s insurance commissioner coupled with her efforts to reform that state’s auto and coastal insurance systems uniquely position her to run TDI.”

Prior to her appointment by Gov. Nikki Haley to run the South Carolina Budget and Control Board, Kitzman was employed by Goldman Sachs. She served as the director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance from 2005 to 2007. Kitzman is a graduate of the University of Houston and earned her law degree from the South Texas College of Law.