Ken Ross, the commissioner of the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR), says he will leave the post Friday.
Ross was appointed to the OFIR post in February 2008 by the former governor, Jennifer Granholm, who is a Democrat. He has continued to serve as commissioner under the new governor, Rick Snyder, who is a Republican.
“Despite the many challenges that we faced during this economic downturn, Michigan’s financial service industry remained fundamentally stable, strong and well-regulated,” Ross says in a statement. “In some small part, this stability during a time of extreme stress, was maintained due to the hard work, dedication and professionalism of the OFIR staff, which I have proudly associated myself in my years with the agency.”
Ross succeeded Linda Watters, who left OFIR in October 2007 to take a job in the Chicago office of KPMG L.L.P., an accounting firm. Watters had been the Michigan insurance commissioner since April 2003.
Ross was the deputy commissioner for policy at OFIR and served as acting Michigan commissioner after Watters resigned.
Ross has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and political science from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.