OIR Fills Two Deputy Commissioner Positions
Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky has named two current regulators to deputy commissioner positions at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR). Commissioner Yaworsky named Sheryl Parker as OIR’s first Deputy Commissioner of Market Regulation. He likewise appointed Virginia Christy as the new Deputy Commissioner of Property and Casualty.
A recent press release from OIR indicates the new deputy position for Market Regulation has been created to enhance consumer protection. This is consistent with the legislature’s intent in passing this year’s accountability legislation. OIR has proposed an administrative rule elevating the market regulation position to the deputy commissioner level.
Prior to Ms. Parker’s appointment as Deputy Commissioner of Market Regulation, she served as OIR’s Director of Property and Casualty Market Regulation since 2019. In that role, she supervised the Property and Casualty Market Regulation business unit. This unit is responsible for conducting examinations and investigations of property and casualty insurers and related parties. Ms. Parker began her career at OIR in 2012 as an operations review specialist and was promoted to a financial administrator in direct support of the Deputy Commissioner of Property and Casualty in 2017. Prior to joining OIR, Ms. Parker worked in a variety of positions for the Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Consumer Services. In these roles, she guided and trained staff on how to assist Floridians with resolving a variety of insurance-related concerns. A Marine Corps veteran, Ms. Parker began her insurance career in 1990 and was a licensed insurance agent in North Carolina and Florida.
Virginia Christy brings more than is a decade of experience in insurance regulation to her new role as Deputy Commissioner. This deputy position oversees Property and Casualty Financial Oversight and Product Review units of OIR. This position also serves as OIR’s representative member on the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens) Market Accountability Advisory Committee. Prior to her appointment as Deputy Commissioner of Property and Casualty, Ms. Christy served as OIR’s Director of Property and Casualty Financial Oversight since 2017. This section of OIR is responsible for the licensure and regulation of all property and casualty insurers. Before taking that position, Ms. Christy served as OIR’s Chief Assistant General Counsel where among other things she managed the Legal Division’s Regulatory Actions Section.
“During their time at OIR, Sheryl and Virginia have been critical to our consumer protection, market regulation and financial oversight efforts,” said Commissioner Yaworsky. “They both are bringing extensive knowledge and experience to their respective positions and I am proud to announce their appointments as Deputy Commissioners. I’m confident they will continue to serve and protect policyholders to the fullest extent.”