PCI's top executive post opened up in September with the abrupt resignation of Ernie Csiszar shortly before his second anniversary in the post over disagreements reportedly stemming from the overall role the federal government should play in providing catastrophe insurance protection.

With the exception of Mr. Gallagher, all of the mentioned commissioners have been generally seen as pro-industry. Mr. Covington once served as a counsel for the National Association of Independent Insurers, a PCI predecessor group, and as Ohio commissioner has supported industry positions with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

The same cannot be said of Mr. Gallagher, who, in two different stints as commissioner, was a proponent of keeping a lid on rates.

With that activity in his background, the notion of Mr. Gallagher as a candidate drew scorn from one industry lobbyist, who observed him at PCI's Nov. 5 annual meeting.

“Can you imagine the gall of that man, coming to the PCI conference and virtually campaigning for the job, considering how he has treated the industry?” the lobbyist remarked.

That source and others, out of concern about their relationship with PCI, spoke on a not for attribution basis.

In recent months, two other insurance trade groups have picked elected officials to run their operations. The American Insurance Association and the American Council of Life Insurers chose well-known former governors–Marc Racicot of Montana and Frank Keating of Oklahoma, respectively–for these jobs.

PCI Senior Vice President Joseph Annotti said that all information about candidates is strictly confidential. And, he said the search committee has not set any deadline for finding a candidate to succeed Mr. Csiszar.

Gerald Whitburn, CEO of Church Mutual Insurance Company, the former PCI chairman, said Nov. 5 that there has been a lot of interest in the post and he expects it to be filled in a few months. PCI has hired the Chicago-based search firm of Heidrick & Struggles to pursue candidates for the job.

In other personnel action, the Des Plaines, Ill.-based organization announced yesterday that Deidre Manna, former acting Illinois director of insurance, will take up the post of vice president of industry and regulatory affairs, in which she will serve as liaison with groups such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the National Conference of Insurance Legislators.