The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) has announced the promotion of Bryant Cummings to director of insurance examinations for its Division of Insurance. Cummings, a veteran team member with 23 years of public service at the department, now leads a team of 12 examiners. In his new role, Cummings will oversee the examination of insurance companies’ operational and financial records. This ensures compliance with Tennessee’s statutory guidelines and the regulatory requirements set by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Cummings, a native of Mississippi, holds degrees from Alcorn State University and the University of Memphis. He is also a Certified Financial Examiner from the Society of Financial Examiners and holds a Market Conduct Management designation from the Insurance Regulatory Examiners Society. Assistant commissioner for the Division of Insurance, Bill Huddleston, highlights Cummings' extensive experience: “With over 20 years’ experience as an insurance examiner, Bryant has a proven track record of helping ensure that companies’ financial and operating conditions remain in compliance with state laws, rules, and regulations.” “In his new leadership role, I am confident that Bryant’s expertise, knowledge, and dedication will continue to help our department’s reputation as a leader among state regulators grow among other states and as well as the insurance market,” he adds. As Tennessee’s insurance regulator, TDCI’s Division of Insurance protects Tennessee consumers by licensing and regulating individuals and corporations, mediating consumer complaints, and providing resources to citizens. Tennessee currently has over 340,000 active licensed insurance producers, marking the largest number of active licensed insurance professionals in state history. Cummings began his career at TDCI in 2002 as a financial institutions examiner. He has steadily accumulated extensive experience and promotions, serving as Assistant Director for the Insurance Examinations team from 2016 until his recent promotion. He assumes this role following the retirement of long-time examinations director Joy Little. Speaking of his new role, Cummings states: “Serving my fellow Tennesseans is an honour and privilege that I take seriously every day,” adding: “While this is a new role for me, I am confident that I will continue to fulfil our Department’s mission of ‘Protecting Consumers, Empowering Professionals’.”
