Blagojevich names new head of Department of Insurance

CHICAGO -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today named J. Anthony Clark as the new director of the Illinois Department of Insurance, the state body responsible for regulating the insurance industry.

Clark, an attorney with 18 years of legal experience, is a recognized authority on state insurance law regulations. Prior to establishing his own private practice, he served as counsel for Montgomery Ward Life Insurance for 10 years.

"Part of my effort to reform our state government is to bring in accomplished professionals, like Mr. Clark, from the private sector who have expertise and experience to make our system work better," the governor said. "Mr. Clark's background in insurance law and his extensive civic involvement will be a tremendous asset to state government in general, and the Department of Insurance in particular."

Clark is a member of the board of directors of the Cook County Bar Association. Previously, he served on the board of the Center for Conflict Resolution and was president of the board for the Society of Samaritans, a suicide prevention agency. He was awarded a distinguished service award for his service with the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services and earned the Cook County Bar Association's Presidential award.

Clark graduated cum laude with a degree in journalism from Hampton Institute, the same Virginia school from which Booker T. Washington graduated in 1875. After working as a reporter for the Evanston Review and Time Magazine, Clark earned a law degree from the University of Chicago and a master's degree in labor relations from Cornell University.