Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Announces Remaining Leadership Appointments
Madison, WI—Wisconsin's new insurance commissioner, Mark Afable, is pleased to announce the remaining appointments to the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance's (OCI) leadership team. Earlier this month, Commissioner Afable announced that Nathan Houdek will serve as deputy commissioner. In that role, Deputy Commissioner Houdek will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations and supervising the regulatory, public information, legal, legislative relations, and administrative responsibilities of OCI, subject to the overall direction of the commissioner.
Today, Commissioner Afable announced that Olivia Hwang will serve as director of public affairs. Olivia will be responsible for overseeing all communications and legislative relations activities for OCI.
Richard Wicka has been appointed chief legal counsel. He served as OCI's deputy chief legal counsel and acting chief legal counsel for the last seven years. Richard will be responsible for supervision of OCI's Legal Unit, providing general legal advice to the commissioner and his staff, and serving as the lead attorney for major enforcement actions and financial matters.
"Olivia and Richard are great additions to the leadership team at OCI," said Commissioner Afable. "Richard's extensive knowledge of Wisconsin insurance laws and Olivia's experience in public relations and communications will be valuable assets as we work to fulfill OCI's mission of protecting insurance consumers and ensuring a competitive insurance environment in Wisconsin."
"I'm honored to join the commissioner's team and to work with the dedicated staff at OCI to expand our consumer education, legislative, and industry outreach efforts," said Olivia Hwang.
"I deeply appreciate my appointment by Commissioner Afable to this new role at OCI and look forward to continuing my work to protect consumers and promote a healthy and competitive insurance industry in Wisconsin," said Richard Wicka.
About Olivia Hwang:
Olivia joins OCI with more than 10 years of strategic leadership in public relations, media management, crisis communications, and marketing. In Wisconsin, Olivia served as the communications director in the Assembly Minority Leader's Office and on a statewide campaign during the 2018 election cycle. Before moving to Wisconsin, she served in several statewide and national communications roles, including vice president of communications for Choices Coordinated Care Solutions and director of media and communications for the Louisiana Department of Health. Olivia served as the lead communications director for the State of Louisiana following the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. She also held leadership roles at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the Louisiana Department of Revenue. Olivia joins OCI after stepping down from a leadership role at the strategic communications firm she started with her husband in the summer of 2018.
About Richard Wicka:
Richard has over sixteen years of experience as a practicing attorney, primarily in the area of insurance law. He has extensive knowledge of Wisconsin insurance statutes and regulations, as well as the legislative and administrative rulemaking process. Richard also served on several National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) working groups and has experience drafting changes to NAIC model laws and regulations.
Created by the Legislature in 1870, Wisconsin's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) was vested with broad powers to ensure that the insurance industry responsibly and adequately met the insurance needs of Wisconsin citizens. Today, OCI's mission is to lead the way in informing and protecting the public and responding to its insurance needs.