Twenty-two days after being named acting superintendent of the New York State Insurance Department, James J. Wrynn is now the agency’s official overseer.

James J. Wrynn

The New York Senate unanimously confirmed Wrynn during a special session Sept. 10, making him the 40th superintendent of the department. Wrynn succeeds Eric Dinallo, who resigned in July to accept a position at New York University’s Stern School of Business and also has expressed his interest in running for New York attorney general in 2010.

Gov. David A. Paterson said he was “pleased” the state senate moved quickly to confirm Wrynn.

“Jim’s experience as an insurance lawyer and his expansive involvement in government prepare him well for this position,” Paterson said in a statement. “He will be an asset to the department and the state in this critical time as the nation moves forward with health insurance reform and financial services regulatory reform.”

In his own statement, Wrynn said he is “honored” to be confirmed and ready to tackle numerous areas of the insurance industry in New York.

“I look forward to working with the department’s superb staff to focus on the special requirements of the local New York insurance marketplace, including all of its insurance companies, agents, brokers and consumers who together help this important industry prosper and grow here,” he said.

Wrynn committed to addressing issues including medical malpractice, bond insurers and the life settlement industry, adding he will “work diligently and innovatively to enhance New York’s reputation as the financial capital of the world, so that we can continue to provide good jobs with good wages for New Yorkers.”

He also said the department will work to ensure that state residents have access to insurance products at a fair price and are fairly treated at all times.
“I believe consumers must always be fully protected and informed about their insurance choices,” he said.

Wrynn comes to the insurance department from the New York State Insurance Fund, where he was selected as its executive director by its board of commissioners in April. Prior to that, he spent 25 years as a trial attorney, focusing in the areas of life, accident and health insurance, property and casualty insurance, general liability insurance, insurance coverage disputes, professional malpractice, and product liability.