Maryland Insurance Administration Announces Senior Appointments

Maryland Insurance Commissioner Therese Goldsmith recently announced three senior appointments at the Maryland Insurance Administration.

Karen Stakem Hornig has been appointed as the administration’s sole deputy commissioner. Nancy Grodin has been promoted to associate deputy commissioner. Emarie Payne has joined the administration as associate commissioner of the property/casualty division.

Deputy Commissioner Hornig first joined the administration as associate deputy commissioner in 2008, serving as the commissioner’s designee for quasi-judicial hearings. In 2009, she was named one of two deputy commissioners. And now, she has been appointed the sole deputy commissioner by Commissioner Goldsmith, with the approval of Governor Martin O’Malley.

Previously, Hornig served as chief legal counsel for the Baltimore Police Department and, prior to that, as a chief solicitor. She also practiced law at Brown & Sheehan, LLP, and served as a vice president at the Notre Dame of Maryland University. She began her legal career in the Office of the Attorney General for the State of Maryland.

Associate Deputy Commissioner Grodin, formerly the associate commissioner of compliance and enforcement, will serve as the commissioner’s primary designee for quasi-judicial hearings, in addition to assuming a number of other operational and oversight responsibilities.

Prior to joining the administration, Grodin held various positions with UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic Inc, Mid-Atlantic Medical Services Inc., Chesapeake Health Plan, PHH Corp., and Merck & Co. She also served as a judicial law clerk on the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland before joining the Baltimore-based law firm formerly known as Weinberg & Green.

Associate Commissioner Payne manages the administration’s property/casualty insurance complaints and rates and forms review functions, to ensure compliance with all applicable Maryland laws and regulations.

Previously, Payne served as vice president and compliance officer with Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Co. in Baltimore. She also held various legal positions with AEGON, USA in Baltimore. Her career in insurance law began as in-house counsel with Minnesota Life Insurance Company in St. Paul, Minn.

Topics Maryland