Alabama Insurance Commissioner Walter Bell will be the new chairman of Swiss Re America Holding Corp., providing “state and federal legislators, regulators and others with the insights they need for effective policy-making.” Besides directing regulatory affairs and lobbying regulators, the company said Mr. Bell, whose appointment is effective September 2, will provide supervisory governance. 

Bell has served as the state’s top insurance regulator since January 2003, when newly elected Gov. Bob Riley, a Republican, appointed him to the post. In 2007, Bell became the first Alabama regulator to serve as president of the NAIC.

August 26, 2008