Maryland: Ralph S. Tyler Named Insurance Commissioner

Gov. Martin O’Malley announced last Thursday that Ralph S. Tyler has been named Maryland insurance commissioner and will oversee regulation of Maryland’s $26 billion insurance industry. Tyler currently serves as chief legal counsel for the O’Malley-Brown administration.

“I am looking forward to serving the people of Maryland in a new capacity,” stated Tyler. “The Maryland Insurance Administration’s primary purpose is to protect Maryland consumers, and I look forward to working under Governor O’Malley to protect the working families of our State.”

Maryland’s regulatory and legislative environment has been challenging for insurers, particularly since Hurricane Isabel in 2003, according to Tami Stanton, NAMIC's central region state affairs manager. "Even under the previous Republican administration, modernizing the state’s burdensome regulations proved difficult," Stanton said. "NAMIC congratulates Commissioner Tyler on his appointment and will work with him to balance the needs of Maryland’s consumers and insurers. After all, the consumer is the true beneficiary of a modern competitive insurance market as most recently illustrated in New Jersey and South Carolina.”

The governor’s office stated Tyler served as one of the governor’s closest advisors as chief legal counsel. Tyler also led the effort to reconstitute Maryland’s Public Service Commission with “independent and professional regulators” and helped to develop the administration’s first annual budget and legislative agenda “to improve the health of Chesapeake Bay and make historic investments in education and school construction.”

“Ralph Tyler has been a steadfast advocate for the working families of our state, and there is no one better to lead the Maryland Insurance Administration,” said O’Malley. “One of the most important things our administration will accomplish is making government work again for working families of our state – standing up for middle-class families when special interests try to take advantage of them.”

Tyler replaces Peggy Watson, who served as interim Maryland insurance commissioner, while also serving as O’Malley’s deputy chief of staff.

Direct questions to NAMIC State Affairs Manager Tami Stanton.

Posted: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 12:00:00 AM. Modified: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 1:18:39 PM.

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We are 1,400 property/casualty insurance companies serving more than 135 million auto, home and business policyholders, with more than $196 billion in premiums accounting for 50 percent of the automobile/homeowners market and 31 percent of the business insurance market. We are the largest and most diverse property/casualty trade association in the country, with regional and local mutual insurance companies on main streets across America joining many of the country’s largest national insurers who also call NAMIC their home. More than 200,000 people are employed by NAMIC members.