New Mexico and Hawaii have named new insurance leaders, with John G. Franchini taking the post in New Mexico and Gordon Ito moving into the job in Hawaii.

Mr. Franchini, a New Mexico native with nearly four decades of insurance industry-related experience, was named the New Mexico superintendent of insurance on Tuesday. The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission voted 4-1 to approve his appointment.

Previously, Mr. Franchini served as vp of government and industry affairs for New Mexico Mutual, a position he had held since 2004. Prior to that, he served as a vp of Brown & Brown of New Mexico Inc.

In Hawaii, Gov. Linda Lingle on Monday named Mr. Ito as commissioner of the Hawaii State Insurance Division. He will oversee an insurance industry that writes nearly $4.5 billion in premiums and includes 1,000 insurance companies and 40,000 agents.

Prior to his appointment as commissioner, Mr. Ito had been chief deputy insurance commissioner since 2000 and has been with Hawaii's insurance division since 1993.