Lawsky Appointment to Lead DFS is Moving Quickly

On May 16, 2011, NY Governor Cuomo announced the nomination of Benjamin Lawsky to be the superintendent of the newly created Department of Financial Services, of which Insurance will be a part. The Times Union Capital Confidential (@TUCapCon) is tweeting this morning that the Senate Insurance Committee has approved the nomination. Current Insurance Department superintendent, James J. Wrynn, will become the Deputy Superintendent, according to the press release. Lawsky’s Senate appearances will continue before the Banking Committee. TU tweets further indicate that his opening statement before the Banking Committee was the same as that made to the Insurance Committee.

Lawsky is currently the Governor’s Chief of Staff and worked for Cuomo in the Attorney General’s office before that. He has been an Assistant US attorney, prosecuting securities fraud, organized crime and terrorism cases as well.