Texas – Mike Geeslin

Texas Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin presides over one of the largest insurance markets in the nation. He began his term as commissioner in 2005, just months before Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana, sending hundreds of thousands of its citizens across the border into Texas, followed in short order by Hurricane Rita, which plowed into both states in September 2005. The Texas Department of Insurance has been widely praised within the insurance industry and without for its rapid, efficient and caring response to those mega-disasters.

During the time it was helping with recovery efforts, TDI began to integrate into its fold the operations of the former Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission, and established the Department of Workers’ Compensation and the Office of Insurance Counsel as part of a legislative mandate to restructure the state’s workers’ compensation system.

In addition, less than a year after the hurricane catastrophes, Geeslin was faced with placing one of Texas’ largest homeowners insurers, Vesta Texas Select, into rehabilitation and then liquidation.

He has had a lot to deal with.

Geeslin described the intense experiences of his less-than-two-years on the job and praised his staff for their hard work and professionalism throughout what has certainly been a difficult time.

Topics Texas Workers' Compensation