Released: February 13, 2008

Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon announced today he has appointed Denise Brignac as Chief Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Insurance. Brignac took over the Department’s number two position on February 8 following the resignation of Bill Newton.

After graduating with a B.A. in Business Management from Southeastern Louisiana University, Brignac completed 27 hours of post graduate course work in Accounting. She was hired by the Department of Insurance in October 1991 as a field examiner and held several positions in the Office of Financial Solvency before becoming the division’s Deputy Commissioner in March 2004.

“ Denise’s knowledge of the insurance industry and her strong management and leadership skills make her a perfect fit for Chief Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Insurance,” says Commissioner Donelon. “She is going to continue to be a huge asset in our office but now in a much greater role,” the Commissioner adds.

Ms. Brignac was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Insure Louisiana Incentive Program. In an effort to attract new insurers to Louisiana and to provide adequate and affordable insurance to property owners of this state, the Insure Louisiana Incentive Program was enacted through the passage of Act 447 of the 2007 Regular Session to the Louisiana Legislature.

Along with her new appointment, Brignac will also serve as Commissioner Donelon’s designee on the board of the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. She will remain as the Commissioner’s designee and chairwoman of the Louisiana Automobile Insurance Plan, as well as the special deputy appointed by Commissioner Donelon to the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association and the Louisiana Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association.

“I am looking forward to managing the day-to-day activities of the Department of Insurance and I am excited about this new opportunity,” says Ms. Brignac.

Ms. Brignac holds the designation of Certified Financial Examiner, as administered by the Society of Financial Examiners (SOFE). She served on the SOFE Board of Governors and Executive Committee from 1999 through 2006 and was elected President of the organization for the 2004-2005 fiscal year.

An active member of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Ms. Brignac has served on various NAIC committees and is currently the chairwoman of a subcommittee of the Emerging Accounting Issues Working Group.

Ms. Brignac is a native of Greensburg, Louisiana and the mother of two children: son Brandon and daughter Bradleigh.