Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky has announced the appointment of Sheryl Parker as the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s (OIR) first Deputy Commissioner of Market Regulation and Virginia Christy as OIR’s Deputy Commissioner of Property and Casualty.
Parker began her career at OIR in 2012, as an operations review specialist and was promoted to financial administrator in direct support of the Deputy Commissioner of Property and Casualty in 2017.
In her new role as first Deputy Commissioner of Market Regulation, Parker will lead OIR’s market regulation efforts to protect insurance consumers from unlawful or harmful business practices.
Before joining OIR, Parker worked in a variety of positions for the Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Consumer Services guiding and training staff on how to assist Floridians with resolving a variety of insurance-related concerns.
Meanwhile, Christy, as Deputy Commissioner of Property and Casualty at OIR, will oversee the Property and Casualty Financial Oversight and Product Review units.
As part of the new role, she will also serve as OIR’s representative member on the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens) Market Accountability Advisory Committee.
Christy most recently served as OIR’s Director of Property and Casualty Financial Oversight since 2017.
Her primary responsibilities as Director included the overall supervision and operation of the Property and Casualty Financial Oversight business unit.
Before joining OIR, Christy served as an Assistant Public Defender with the 2nd Judicial Circuit.
Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky commented, “During their time at OIR, Sheryl and Virginia have been critical to our consumer protection, market regulation and financial oversight efforts.
“They both are bringing extensive knowledge and experience to their respective positions and I am proud to announce their appointments as Deputy Commissioners. I’m confident they will continue to serve and protect policyholders to the fullest extent.”
OIR notes that recently, Governor DeSantis signed three bills that strengthen Florida’s property insurance market, expand the state’s home hardening and hazard mitigation programs, and further protect consumers against bad actors.
Thus, the Deputy Commissioner of Market Regulation and the Deputy Commissioner of Property and Casualty will work to implement this legislation and ensure consumers are being protected from predatory insurer practices.
