Robert Hunter, insurance director for the Consumer Federation of America in Washington, said Mr. Csiszar was an insurance industry ideologue and his move was "a good day for consumers--the sheep's clothing is off the wolf. We called for his resignation months ago."

He added sarcastically that it was "another great moment in the history of the NAIC, where the president who has been pushing a radical deregulation agenda goes to work for the PCI, which is the far right of the insurance industry?it's an amazing embarrassment."

Mr. Csiszar's move is not the first case of what Mr. Hunter called the revolving door between the insurance industry and NAIC regulators. Four years ago, Kentucky Commissioner George Nichols, days after completing his term as NAIC president, took an executive position with New York Life.

"There doesn't seem to be any standard about regulators going to work for the industry," noted consumer advocate Birny Birnbaum.

But Mr. Birnbaum, the executive director of the Center for Economic Justice and a frequent gadfly of regulators at NAIC meetings, said that Mr. Csiszar is "a smart guy with a lot of integrity. I hope he'll improve the PCI contribution to insurance regulatory debate."

Mr. Birnbaum voiced a hope that Mr. Csiszar "won't engage in issues that he presided over in South Carolina," adding: "I think highly of Ernie. I think he'll avoid any conflicts of interest."

Still, he said, the move could raise the question: "Was he doing anything in anticipation of this job?"

Mr. Dickson said the PCI board interviewed several excellent candidates but, "felt that Ernie's unique knowledge, gained through experience as a regulator, as an insurance company executive and in finance made him the right person to lead the new PCI."

PCI is the result of this January's merger of the Alliance of American Insurers and the National Association of Independent Insurers.

The group bills itself as "the most diverse" of the property-casualty trade associations, representing more than 1,000 member companies that write almost 40 percent of the nation's property and casualty insurance. PCI and its affiliates have a staff of 240 and a $40 million budget. It has offices in suburban Chicago and Washington, D.C., seven regional offices, and has lobbyists in every state.

"Ernie built an unparalleled reputation as a regulator and as a leader of the NAIC," said Harvey Pierce, PCI vice chairman. Mr. Pierce, chairman of American Family Insurance, co-chaired the PCI search committee with Mr. Dickson. "Ernie understands the importance of our advocacy work and he has the strong business skills to successfully manage the association," he added.

"In my position as a regulator, I admired the advocacy work of both the NAII and the Alliance," Mr. Csiszar said in the statement released by PCI.

Mr. Csiszar said the merger creating PCI has formed "a diverse association that represents large and small companies, stocks and mutuals and is a true cross-section of the industry.

"I embrace the association's commitment to providing an exceptional level of service to its members and to developing policy through the members by consensus and in a spirit of mutual respect. PCI is positioned to lead the effort to unify the industry, and I am pleased and honored to be a part of its future. "

"I believe Ernie is the right person to build on the foundation created by the merger of NAII and the Alliance. His stature within the industry and with policy makers, his reputation and his integrity, his knowledge of the industry and his unique perspective as both a regulator and an industry executive will make him an outstanding asset to the members and a leading force towards industry unity," said retiring PCI President Jack Ramirez.

Mr. Ramirez will become president emeritus on Oct. 4, and will retire Oct. 31, after the first PCI Annual Meeting. Also retiring Oct. 31 will be Rodger Lawson, PCI executive vice president and former president of the Alliance.

Mr. Csiszar was appointed director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance in 1999 after al career in business and in academia.

As a regulator he introduced operational efficiencies, and PCI credits him with helping to create a thriving insurance market in South Carolina.

Within the NAIC he served as secretary-treasurer, vice president and president. Prior to his appointment as director in South Carolina, Mr. Csiszar served as president and chief executive officer of Seibels Bruce Group, Inc., a Columbia, S.C. insurance company, from 1995 to 1998.

He was a visiting professor at the School of Business at the University of South Carolina from 1993 to 1995 and served as managing co-director of the European investment-banking firm Holborn Holdings Corp. in Geneva, Switzerland from 1979 to 1988.

Mr. Csiszar was born in Romania. He immigrated with his family to Ontario, Canada, where he completed high school in only two years. Mr. Csiszar received a Bachelor of Arts in both mathematics and philosophy from the University of Windsor. He received his LLB from University of Windsor School of Law.

PCI members write $154 billion in annual premium--38 percent of the nation's property-casualty insurance. Member companies write 47.1 percent of the U.S. auto insurance market, 37 percent of the homeowners market, 31.2 percent of the commercial property and liability market, and 38.8 percent of the private workers' compensation market.