Connecticut's insurance commissioner is moving on for a job in the financial services industry. Thomas Leonardi will leave the agency in December.
Leonardi has served as Governor Dannel Malloy's insurance commissioner since early 2011. He announced that he will join Evercore, a New York-based global investment banking advisory firm, where he'll act as a senior advisor on insurance for the company.
Leonardi came from industry to take the state job. For 22 years, he was CEO of Northington Partners, an Avon-based investment firm that specializes in the insurance industry.
Malloy issued a statement thanking Leonardi for his service, saying he believes his tenure has seen Connecticut reclaim its reputation as insurance capital of the world. "I have no doubt that Tom’s global reputation as a recognized expert on a variety of regulatory issues, along with the outstanding relationships he has built with consumer and industry trade associations, played a crucial role," Malloy said.
No successor has yet been named. Malloy's statement said personnel decisions regarding the department will be announced in coming weeks.