Schmelzer to Head Insurance Guaranty Fund Group

The National Conference of Insurance Guaranty Funds (NCIGF) has selected a property/casualty trade association executive to serve as its next chief executive.

Roger H. Schmelzer will begin his duties with the Indianapolis-based organization on June 5. Schmelzer comes to NCIGF following seven years as senior vice president for state and regulatory affairs at the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC).

He will be only the second president of NCIGF, following Dale Stephenson who stepped down last December after 15 years in the position.

Schmelzer’s background includes service as chief of staff and counsel to the speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, as well as the House minority leader. He also was a top aide to U.S. Senator Richard G. Lugar and practiced law at Kightlinger & Gray in Indianapolis.

“A fundamentally sound guaranty fund system is essential to a competitive, market-driven property/casualty insurance industry,” Schmelzer said. “I welcome the opportunity to help build on the substantial successes of this system. I also look forward to working with our members in making public policy changes that will further establish its viability and reliability.”

NCIGF is a nonprofit association incorporated in December 1989 to provide national assistance and support to the property/casualty guaranty funds located in each of the 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

The NCIGF monitors national insurance activities and coordinates information for multi-state insolvencies, and provides support to its members on various legal and administrative matters. The organization with the property/casualty trade associations to assess and respond to issues that might impact state guaranty funds, and also works with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to develop model act legislation. The NCIGF provides a national forum for discussions and interchange of information on all problems arising out of the implementation of state guaranty fund laws.

Source: NCIGF