Sources: Malloy set to select lobbyist daughter-in-law of Democratic lawyer pal to be Insurance commish

 

anneSources indicate that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is set to reward omnipresent Democratic fundraiser and state party stalwart James A. Wade, by nominating his daughter-in-law Katie Wade, a former VP of governmental affairs – that’s a lobbyist – at Cigna, to become the next commissioner of the state Department of Insurance. Updating this on Friday morning, Malloy’s office sent an advisory for a 2 p.m. announcement of an “administrative appointment.” That would mean that acting Commissioner Anne Melissa Dowling (left) has struck out for the top spot following the departure of Thomas B. Leonardi. Wade’s Linked In site says she last worked in 2013. Jim Wade, a longtime partner at Robinson & Cole, has contributed nearly $13,000 to state Democrats dating back to the late-1990s, according to Federal Election Commission records, including about $5,000 to the Democratic State Central Committee.

 

 

 

This is Dowling’s bio from the Dept of Insurance website:

“Acting Commissioner Dowling joined the Connecticut Insurance Department on September 15, 2011 as a deputy commissioner. A Chartered Financial Analyst with more than 25 years in the financial services industry, the Commissioner has served as Chief Investment Officer for Connecticut Mutual and built a $12 billion institutional markets business for MassMutual. She held executive and management positions at Travelers Insurance and Aetna Life & Casualty.

Commissioner Dowling is board member for Access Health CT (AHCT), the state-sponsored health insurance marketplace created by the federal Affordable Care Act. Her service includes membership on the Human Resources, Strategy, Financial and CEO Search committees of ACHT board. She is chairwoman of the advisory committee on Essential Health Benefits and Plan Qualifications.

She is a steering committee member for Connecticut State Innovation Model Initiative (SIM), a comprehensive plan to transform Connecticut’s health care delivery systems, health care workplace development and innovative payer models.

Commissioner Dowling participates in numerous task forces and working groups that include state agencies, nonprofit groups, private business, academia and members of the business community. The work of those groups has focused on improving access to mental health and substance abuse treatment as well as public health programs.

In 2015, Commissioner Dowling will represent Connecticut on the new Cybersecurity Task Force of National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Other NAIC activities include membership on the Life Insurance and Annuities (“A”) Committee and the Property and Casualty Insurance (“C”) Committee and the Executive Committee’s International Insurance Regulations Leadership Group.

In July 2014, Insurance Business America Magazine named her one of the “50 Elite Women in Insurance,” highlighting her commitment to consumer protection and regulatory innovation. While at MassMutual, she created an award-winning Women’s Market Initiative that expanded the marketing image into women’s markets and increased the number of female sales agents.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College in Fine Arts and French Literature and an MBA from Columbia University with a focus on Finance and Real Estate.

An active community volunteer, Commissioner Dowling is President of the Hartford Public Library board. She is a past member of the Amherst College, the UConn Foundation, University of Connecticut Research and Development Corporation and Miss Porter’s School boards. Commissioner Dowling also has volunteered with the 2010 World Youth Peace Summit, the United Way Campaign, St. Francis Hospital’s Women’s Service Advisory Board, First Book Hartford Literacy Program and Reaching Home Leadership Council, an organization for permanent supportive housing.”