As agent groups in Maryland await word of who will be their next insurance commissioner, they are hoping Ralph S. Tyler’s successor mirrors his open communication style.

Ralph S. Tyler

Tyler, named head of the Maryland Insurance Administration in September 2007, recently resigned his post to accept the position of chief counsel with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, former health commissioner for Baltimore, was appointed as a deputy commissioner with the FDA last year and offered Tyler the opportunity, the former commissioner said. The pair worked together during Tyler’s tenure as Baltimore City solicitor.

Tyler said the new role allows him “to return to being a lawyer.

“I’ve enjoyed tremendously my time as insurance commissioner and am keenly aware of the importance of the work here in protecting consumers,” Tyler told IFAwebnews.com. “We’ve made progress in important areas in the time here and I credit the staff at the MIA for that.”

Gov. Martin O’Malley’s office has named Beth Sammis as interim commissioner, telling IFAwebnews.com they have no set timetable to announce a permanent successor to Tyler.

Bryson Popham, a lobbyist for several insurance producer groups and insurers operating in Maryland, said Tyler was “unabashedly pro-consumer,” a stance he feels the former commissioner would affirm.

“He was very open to communications [with my clients],” Popham said. “When we wanted to talk or meet with him, he made himself available. He would always give you an audience.”

All opinions heard

Popham noted that even amid differing views, Tyler always was willing to listen. One example he cited was the former commissioner’s inquiry into compensation disclosure regulations, which would mirror those being proposed in New York.

While his clients did not oppose the rule, but rather “felt it was not necessary,” Popham said Tyler was willing to meet and listen to them.

Linda McCann, chair of the Independent Agents & Brokers of Maryland, agreed, saying  she has always appreciated Tyler taking the time to meet with agents, “even when we disagree.

“He was open to discussing any issue with any association, to work with anyone in the industry to resolve that issue,” she said. “I can remember a meeting I attended, where we didn’t necessarily agree, but we talked about our disagreement and he listened. That’s all you can ask for.”

Brett Lininger, a Independent Insurance Agents of Maryland lobbyist, said Tyler “was always fair and always listening to the agents.”

Hope for continued openness

“We look forward to working with whomever is named his successor,” he said.

Both Popham and McCann said they hope Tyler’s successor continues open dialogue with Maryland’s agent community.

“What we’d like to see is someone who will keep those lines of communication open, to consult with agents’ associations when there are issues to see if there is really a problem or if it is just one person with the issue or throughout the entire state,” McCann said.

Chet Burrell, president and CEO of Owings Mills, Md.-based CareFirst, called Tyler an “active and capable” commissioner who “always made decisions in the best interest of citizens.

“He has been smart and effective in carrying out his role,” Burrell said.

Tyler said under his leadership, he believes the MIA has strengthened consumer protection activities in solvency, complaints, rate review and other areas, what he called “the job of any insurance commissioner.”

Tyler said he also enjoyed his work on market regulation with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “an unexpected, unanticipated benefit of my position.”

Roger A. Sevigny, the NAIC’s past president, called Tyler “a dedicated public servant, who has been diligent in protecting the interests of Maryland consumers during his tenure as insurance commissioner.

“He will be missed,” said Sevigny.

// Ralph S. Tyler

• Age: 62
• Born: Cleveland, Ohio
• Experience: Eight years in private practice as a partner with Baltimore-based Hogan & Hartson; 14 years in the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, including five years as chief of litigation and five years as deputy attorney general; chief legal council for Gov. Martin O’Malley; former Baltimore city solicitor under O’Malley; appointed MIA commissioner in 2007; new chief counsel with U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
• Notable actions with MIA: Coordinated return of nearly $100 million to state and physicians from Medical Mutual Liability Insurance Society in 2007; in 2008, cut severance package of former CareFirst CEO William Jews in half to $9 million, a move later overturned by Maryland Circuit Court judge (appeal pending); organized restructuring of ACA Financial Guaranty Corp. in 2008 amid company’s financial troubles; found nine premium finance companies in violation of state law on interest calculations, again overturned by state circuit court (appeal pending); holds hearing on concierge or “boutique” medicine, but MIA never issues regulations on health practice; holds hearing in late 2009 on reserve levels of two CareFirst subsidiaries.

This story originally appeared in the February 2010 print edition of Insurance & Financial Advisor.