Blasingame to Retire as Arkansas Chief Deputy Commissioner

Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Allen Kerr announced that long-time insurance employee, Chief Deputy Commissioner Lenita Blasingame, has decided to retire at the end of June after nearly 50 years with the Arkansas Insurance Department.

Kerr named Russ Galbraith as her replacement.

Blasingame served as an intern at the department in 1963 and 1964, becoming a full-time employee in 1965. She began her career as a secretary to the commissioner and worked her way up through the ranks to her current position as chief deputy. Blasingame served as insurance commissioner during the transition between Julie Benafield and Jay Bradford in 2009.

Galbraith has served as a senior government and industry affairs manager for Farmers Insurance for the last 17 years, serving as the primary legislative and regulatory liaison for the company in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. He previously served as president of the Arkansas Adjusters Association.

Source: Arkansas Insurance Department