NYDFS Announces Appointments of Executive Deputy Superintendent for Insurance and Deputy Superintendent for Insurance

Mr. Scott Fischer and Ms. Laura Evangelista join DFS Executive Staff

Scott Fischer has been appointed Executive Deputy Superintendent for Insurance at the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), reporting directly to the Superintendent. Mr. Fischer will lead the Insurance Division of DFS, which supervises 1,700 insurers with assets exceeding $4.2 trillion. Laura E. Evangelista has been appointed Deputy Superintendent for Insurance at the New York State Department of Financial Services, reporting to Mr. Fischer.

“We welcome Scott and Laura, with their deep insurance and legal backgrounds, to the Executive Team at DFS,” said Maria T. Vullo, Acting Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services. “Together they bring invaluable government and industry experience to the pool of talented professionals at DFS.”

A litigator and corporate attorney, Mr. Fischer has been the Special Deputy Superintendent at the New York Liquidation Bureau, reporting to the DFS Superintendent. His responsibilities have included overseeing the liquidation proceedings of more than 25 domestic insurers, handling thousands of claims eligible for New York insurance security fund coverage, and distributing more than $500 million in claim payments and estate dividends, while managing a staff of over 200 employees.

Prior to his employment with the Liquidation Bureau, Mr. Fischer worked at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London, focusing on restructuring and work-outs of companies operating in Eastern Europe and former Soviet republics. He has also served as Senior Counsel in the Office of General Counsel at the New York Insurance Department, as an Assistant Attorney General at the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and many years in private practice. Mr. Fischer earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science from Dickinson College.

Ms. Evangelista has over 20 years of diverse legal experience in the insurance industry. She was most recently at Nausch, Hogan & Murray Inc., where she served as Vice-President and Assistant General Counsel. She oversaw all corporate, legal and compliance functions for the firm, working closely with top management on corporate and financial issues.

Prior to this role, Ms. Evangelista spent 12 years as a commercial litigator specializing in insurance litigation at Wilson, Elser, Moskowitiz, Edelman & Dicker LLP. Ms. Evangelista earned her J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science from Trinity College.