NAIC CEO Gary Anderson Steps Down; Jeff Johnston Named Interim Leader

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) announced the departure of CEO Gary Anderson effective October 29, with Jeff Johnston appointed as interim CEO.

Anderson had led the organization since 2024 after a tenure as Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner. Johnston, serving also as chief regulatory affairs officer, brings over 25 years of NAIC institutional experience to his interim leadership role. This leadership change occurs amid NAIC’s plans for a significant budget increase in 2026, projecting revenues of $178.8 million and expenses of $186.3 million, reflecting growth in operational scale.

NAIC is undertaking initiatives outlined in its 2025 roadmap to advance state-based insurance regulation, focusing on enhancing consumer protection, modernizing the risk-based capital framework, and addressing emerging issues such as artificial intelligence in insurance. Additionally, the association recently adopted Actuarial Guideline 55 to enforce stricter asset adequacy testing in life-insurance reinsurance transactions, signaling ongoing regulatory advancement.