Okla. Commissioner Names Chief of Staff

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland announced that Craig Knutson will serve as her chief of staff at the Oklahoma Insurance Department. He will start in his new position March 1.

In his role as chief of staff, Knutson will be responsible for managing the internal operations of the agency. In addition, Holland has charged him with advancing the agency’s technical capabilities to improve services offered by the department.

“Craig will help us better serve our customers, including policyholders, the insurance industry and the citizens of Oklahoma,” Holland said. “He has a tremendous track record in leadership, planning and working with community groups to improve our state.”

A native of Tulsa, Knutson graduated from the University of Oklahoma with degrees in political science and regional planning. He has worked as an economist in several organizations over the past two decades.

Knutson is a member of several organizations including the Board of Governors of the Communities Foundation of Oklahoma, Leadership Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals, Oklahoma League of Economists and USA Today’s Forecast Panel of Economists.

The Oklahoma Insurance Department regulates more than 100 Oklahoma-based insurance companies as well as 1,500 others. It also licenses 70,000 insurance agents and adjusters, bail bondsmen and real estate appraisers. The department receives more than 50,000 consumer calls annually.