Over the course of the past few weeks there have been some significant changes to Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce Mike Rothman’s leadership team.

First, the role of Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff will be filled by Emily Johnson Piper, who has served as the Department’s General Counsel since Commissioner Rothman came into office in early 2011. Ms. Johnson Piper replaces outgoing Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff Steve Carlson.

Second, Commissioner Rothman has also promoted Marty Fleischhacker to the position of Director of Enforcement Investigations. Mr. Fleischhacker will oversee enforcement investigations in a number of areas, including insurance, real estate, and mortgages. Mr. Fleischhacker has been with the Department for 13 years and has served in various capacities, including, most recently, Audit Director.

Paul Hanson has been promoted to the position of Chief Examiner for the Investigations Unit, focusing on the Department’s market conduct examinations of insurance companies and other entities. Mr. Hanson has served at the Department in a number of different capacities before his recent promotion.

Commissioner Rothman also appointed Mary Jo Wall to the position of Assistant Commissioner of Financial Institutions Division. Ms. Wall has been a longtime Department employee, serving in a number of different capacities, and will be responsible for on-site examination and of monitoring of the financial condition of state-chartered banks, credit unions, thrift companies, and finance and mortgage companies.

Last, but certainly not least, Commissioner Rothman promoted Ms. Anne O'Connor to the position of Director of Communications. Ms. O’Connor takes over the reins from former Director of Communications Matt Swenson, who is now with the Governor’s Office. Ms. O’Connor previously worked with the St. Paul Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity, as well as the Minnesota House of Representatives.

One position that Commissioner Rothman has yet to fill, but may be happening in the near term, is the Deputy Commissioner of Enforcement position. This is a position that is expected to be filled over the course of the next month or so.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!