Vermont Taps Kaj Samsom to Lead Department of Financial Regulation

The State of Vermont has named Kaj Samsom commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR). Prior to his appointment as DFR commissioner, Mr. Samsom was chief auditor at the National Life Group.

Since the beginning of this year, Sandy Bigglestone, deputy commissioner of Vermont's Captive Insurance Division, served as acting commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation. Ms. Bigglestone added the acting commissioner responsibilities to her Captive Division role following the retirement of previous DFR commissioner Kevin Gaffney.

Mr. Samsom brings both private and public sector experience to his new role as Vermont's DFR commissioner. He previously spent more than 14 years in state government in various roles. He joined the Vermont Department of Insurance in 2006 as an insurance examiner, and in 2011 he was named director of the Insurance Division's Licensing and Examinations section. In 2014, Mr. Samsom was appointed deputy commissioner of the Insurance Division by then-DFR commissioner Susan L. Donegan.

From 2017 to 2019, Mr. Samsom served as tax commissioner in the administration of Vermont Gov. Phil Scott.

Mr. Samsom is a certified public accountant, a certified financial examiner, and a member of the Pi Alpha Alpha public administration honor society. He holds bachelor of science and master of public administration degrees from the University of Vermont.