Three months after being named the acting chief executive officer for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisor, Susan Waters was named the organization’s official leader.

Susan B. Waters

NAIFA, based in Falls Church, Va., said that Waters would succeed John Healy, who resigned in December 2009 to pursue other interests, according to a statement from the group. Healy was NAIFA’s CEO since September 2007.

Prior to being named NAIFA’s acting CEO, Waters served as the association’s deputy CEO, starting in October 2007. She has more than 22 years of experience in professional association management and experience in the insurance industry and at NAIFA.

“For more than two and a half years, Dr. Waters has played a crucial role in leading the professional staff and operations at NAIFA,” said NAIFA President Thomas Currey in a statement. “In searching for the right CEO to take NAIFA to new heights, we didn’t need to look very far. We were very fortunate to have Susan in place.”

Prior to joining NAIFA, Waters was president of Sextant Consulting, a firm specializing in consulting on association governance, conflict management, strategic planning, leadership development and meeting facilitation. She was also CEO at the California Society of Certified Public Accountants and the executive director of the Massachusetts Bar Association, and the San Francisco Medical Society and the Prince George’s County (Md.) Medical Society.

“It’s impossible to resist being excited about NAIFA,” Waters said. “We continue to be this industry’s first and best defense, and we are giving producers more and more reasons to be a part of NAIFA. Our members are answering the call and getting involved.”