New York Senate Confirms Wrynn as Superintendent

New York State Insurance Superintendent James J. Wrynn dropped "acting" from his title with the state Senate's confirmation of his appointment as the Empire State's 40th insurance superintendent.

The Senate voted unanimously to confirm Wrynn, who became acting superintendent Aug. 20, to the $127,000-per-year post. He previously served as executive director of the New York State Insurance Fund.

Gov. David A. Paterson commended the Senate on the swift confirmation process. "Jim's experience as an insurance lawyer and his expansive involvement in government prepare him well for this position. 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," Paterson said in a statement.

The superintendent said he intends to focus on medical malpractice, bond insurers and the life settlement industry.

Wrynn is a founding partner of MacKay, Wrynn & Brady LLP, where he represented major companies, policyholders, municipalities and public authorities. As a trial attorney, he also handled matters including professional malpractice, subrogation, property/casualty coverage disputes, liabilities and insurance. He also served as a board member of the New York City Economic Development Corp. and the New York City Business Relocation Assistance Corp., according to his NYSIF biography (BestWire, Aug. 14, 2009).

Former Superintendent Eric Dinallo, who stepped down July 3, recently filed papers with the New York State Board of Elections to create a committee for a campaign for New York Attorney General. A Democrat, Dinallo stopped short of announcing his intention to run. In a letter to reporters and supporters, Dinallo said he will run only if incumbent Attorney General Andrew Cuomo decides to not run for re-election. Cuomo is seen as a potential gubernatorial challenger to Paterson (BestWire, Aug. 24, 2009).

Wrynn made an appointment of his own, naming Dennis J. Hayes as special deputy superintendent of the New York Liquidation Bureau. Hayes has been a top executive at the NYLB since 1996, most recently as assistant special deputy superintendent. The NYLB acts on behalf of the superintendent as the court-appointed fiduciary and receiver of insurance companies that have been declared impaired or insolvent.