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Kent Sullivan
30 September 2020Executive Appointments

Kent Sullivan steps down as Texas Insurance Commissioner to return to private sector


Kent Sullivan has resigned as Texas Insurance Commissioner to return to the private sector.

Sullivan has more than 35 years of legal experience and was a partner in several private law firms before becoming Insurance Commissioner. He previously served as a Texas Court of Appeals justice, a state district court judge, and first assistant attorney general for the Texas Office of the Attorney General.

Sullivan informed Governor Abbott of his decision in August and left his position in September. He was appointed head of the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) in October 2017. TDI regulates the second-largest insurance market in the nation and the seventh-largest in the world.

Sullivan oversaw a modernisation push that led to faster service in complaint resolution and agent licensing, an increase in online licensing applications, and a major organisational restructuring, TDI said.

TDI has reduced its reliance on paper, streamlined rule development, and increased automation, training, and technical support in its call center operations. It also recently implemented an artificial intelligence project that could transform state policy reviews, TDI added.

Abbott said the state was grateful for Sullivan’s leadership. “Under his tenure, TDI was responsible for protecting insurance consumers in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey—the largest natural disaster in Texas history,” he said. “The Lone Star State is better today because of Kent’s service, and I wish him well as he returns to private practice.”