Mass. insurance commissioner steps down

BOSTON--Julianne Bowler stepped down Tuesday as Massachusetts insurance commissioner, leaving the vacancy to be filled by newly installed Gov. Deval Patrick.

Joseph Murphy, the Insurance Division's first deputy commissioner, was named acting commissioner until the Democratic governor names Ms. Bowler's successor, said a spokeswoman for the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, which oversees the Massachusetts Insurance Division.

Ms. Bowler served more than four years as the state's insurance commissioner. She was first appointed on April 2, 2002, and was reappointed on March 3, 2003.

Before her departure, Ms. Bowler chaired the National Assn. of Insurance Commissioner's Reinsurance Task Force and served as secretary/treasurer of the Northeast Zone.