GRAPEVINE, TEXAS--The new National Association of Insurance Commissioners president said the group's focus in the coming year will be on the interconnected issues of insurers' solvency and consumer protection.

Speaking at the NAIC's winter meeting here, Roger Sevigny, New Hampshire insurance commissioner, and the newly elected NAIC leadership team outlined major items to be addressed in 2009.

That team includes Jane Cline, West Virginia insurance commissioner and president-elect; Susan Voss, Iowa insurance commissioner and vice president; and Kevin McCarty, Florida insurance commissioner and secretary-treasurer.

Ms. Cline commented that as commissioner, she has to make sure there is rate adequacy and that consumers are treated fairly at the same time.

Mr. McCarty said that he wears two hats: one that is concerned with solvency and making sure that companies are strong enough to pay claims, and one that is concerned with consumer protections. Iowa's Commissioner Voss responded that without consumer confidence in insurers, there will not be the confidence to buy products.

On the issue of creating a financial rating agency that would be an affiliate of the NAIC run through the Securities Valuation Office, an NAIC arm, Mr. Sevigny said there is not yet a proposal to vet and that the plan is still being put together.

Mr. McCarty added that the notion of an independent agency to rate insurers is a "concept." A filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which oversees registration of nationally rated securities rating organizations, will be broad rather than limiting, he said.

When the new leadership team was asked for details about a capital and surplus relief proposal advanced by the American Council of Life Insurers, Mr. McCarty responded that the NAIC is not softening restrictions but rather trying to be prudent. And when asked if any insurers were in financial jeopardy and required immediate relief, Mr. Sevigny, Ms. Cline and Ms. Voss responded, "Not that we're aware of."

On the issue of a new reinsurance proposal to eliminate 100 percent collateral requirements for some foreign reinsurers, Mr. McCarty responded that it will bring "greater capacity into the marketplace" and capital will be increased and not limited because companies will not be required to create trusts and sign agreements for letters of credit.

Mr. Sevigny added that federal enabling legislation that Congress will need to enact in order to create a single point of entry for international reinsurers under the revised reinsurance rules is "part and parcel of a regulatory modernization plan."

In addition to the election of a new leadership team, new geographic zone teams were also elected for 2009. They are as follows:

o Northeastern Zone

Steven M. Goldman--Chair, New Jersey

Thomas Sullivan--Vice Chair, Connecticut

Joel Ario--Secretary, Pennsylvania

o Southeastern Zone

Scott Richardson--Chair, South Carolina

Leslie Newman--Vice Chair, Tennessee

Jim Donelon--Secretary, Louisiana

o Midwestern Zone

Kim Holland--Chair, Oklahoma

Sean Dilweg--Vice Chair, Wisconsin

Merle Scheiber--Secretary, South Dakota

o Western Zone

Linda Hall--Chair, Alaska

Kent Michie--Vice Chair, Utah

Mo Chavez--Secretary, New Mexico