People Moves: Bettencourt Settling In as New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner

DJ Bettencourt is settling in after he was confirmed as the state’s insurance commissioner, more than a month after he was nominated to the post by Gov. Chris Sununu.

“As commissioner, my key priorities include making New Hampshire a gold standard for mental health parity, preserving the small-group market to ensure access to affordable coverage for small businesses, and assisting non-profits in obtaining critical insurance coverages to support their vital work in the community,” Bettencourt said in a statement last week, shortly after the state’s Executive Council approved his appointment.

Bettencourt, a former state legislator, replaces Commissioner Christopher Nicolopoulos, who did not seek reappointment at the end of his term.

Bettencourt has served as deputy insurance commissioner since early 2021. After resigning from the state House of Representatives in 2012, he served as Sununu’s liaison to the Insurance Department for four years, and worked with insurance companies on market stability and other issues, according to news reports.

In August, Bettencourt issued a bulletin reminding insurers and agencies that they must notify the department when terminating producers.

He said in the news release that the department will continue to recruit talent, modernize operations and improve efficiency.

“Over the past year, the department has achieved significant milestones that underscore its commitment to safeguarding consumers and ensuring the stability of the insurance market,” Bettencourt said. “These accomplishments include processing an unprecedented number of insurance adjusters and producers, exceeding tax revenue projections, and achieving record consumer recoveries.”