Commissioner Donelon Names Richard Robertson to Head Louisiana Citizens

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announced today that he has named Richard Robertson from Northville, Michigan as the new president of Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens). Robertson has held the position of general manager of Michigan Basic Property Insurance Association in Detroit for the last 20 years. “Richard will be a perfect match as president of Citizens,” said Donelon. “His executive experience in the property residual market managing the Michigan FAIR Plan makes him well suited to head up Louisiana Citizens.”

Robertson has a broad-based property and casualty background including experience in claims, underwriting, legal, information systems, accounting and human resources. He has successfully implemented several cost containment strategies for the Michigan FAIR Plan. Robertson holds a bachelor’s of science degree in business administration and a master’s degree in business administration, both from Wayne State University in Detroit.

Donelon said he will meet with the Citizens executive committee on July 26 to discuss a compensation package for Robertson. Then he will ask the Citizens board to ratify Robertson’s hiring and pay package at its August meeting. According to state law and the Citizens operating policies, Donelon is responsible for hiring and firing top-level managers at the state-run insurer of last resort. Robertson will be in attendance at Monday’s meeting.

John Wortman, who has been president of Citizens since April 2007 and is responsible for turning Citizens around after Hurricane Katrina, is retiring to spend more time with his family. Wortman has agreed to stay on with Citizens long enough to insure a smooth transition of leadership at Citizens.