Kansas Department of Insurance announces new Assistant Commissioner

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced the appointment of Clay Johnson as the new Assistant Commissioner of Insurance for the Kansas Department of Insurance (KDOI).

According to a press release from KDOI, Johnson succeeds Barb Rankin, who retired earlier this month.

“Clay is a bright legal mind,” said Commissioner Vicki Schmidt. “But it was his work ethic and sensible approach to regulation that made him a natural fit for this new role.”

Johnson currently serves as the Assistant General Counsel for the KDOI. He started with the KDOI as a Staff Attorney in 2016.

In 2019, he became the Chief Regulatory Counsel and later became the Assistant General Counsel for KDOI Legal Division in 2020.

The Department’s Lead Regulatory Counsel, Philip Michael, will be replacing Johnson as Assistant General Counsel.

Michael has worked for the State of Kansas for 11 years, including the Department of Administration Legal Services as a Staff Attorney and in the Office of the Attorney General as an Assistant Attorney General.

He started working for the KDOI as the Lead Regulatory Counsel in 2022.

“I pride myself in building a team at the Department of Insurance that best serves Kansans and responsibly regulates the industries we govern,” said Commissioner Vicki Schmidt. “Both Philip and Clay bring incredible knowledge, experience, and professionalism to these new roles.”