About Us
Information about the State of New Hampshire's Insurance Department
The New Hampshire Insurance Department was established in 1851, the first insurance regulatory agency in the United States. The responsibilities of the Insurance Department are codified by the provisions of RSA 400-A of the Insurance Laws. The Insurance Commissioner is charged with the enforcement of insurance laws of the State of New Hampshire, including collection of premium taxes and fees, regulation of all insurance companies, agents and adjusters.
The mission of the New Hampshire Insurance Department is to promote and protect the public good by ensuring the existence of a safe and competitive insurance marketplace through the development and enforcement of the insurance laws of the State of New Hampshire. We are committed to doing so in an honest, effective and timely manner.
Read more about the history of the department and previous commissioners.
NHID Leadership
- Insurance Commissioner D.J. Bettencourt
- Deputy Insurance Commissioner Keith Nyhan
- Assistant Commissioner Jason Dexter
- General Counsel Roni Karnis
DJ Bettencourt
D.J. Bettencourt, formerly the Deputy Commissioner of the New Hampshire Insurance Department, assumed the role of Commissioner after being nominated by Governor Chris T. Sununu and confirmed by the Executive Council in September 2023. He initially joined the department as Deputy Commissioner upon his nomination by Commissioner Christopher Nicolopoulos in January 2021. Prior to his tenure as Deputy Commissioner, Bettencourt held the position of Governor Sununu's Policy Director for a span of four years, during which he also served as the Governor's liaison to the Insurance Department.
Before his time in the Governor's Office, Commissioner Bettencourt had a distinguished eight-year career (2004-2012) in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, including a two-year term as Majority Leader. Throughout his legislative service, he played a pivotal role in shaping policies that had a significant impact on the insurance industry. Bettencourt holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the University of New Hampshire School of Law, along with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communications from the University of New Hampshire.
Keith E. Nyhan
Keith E. Nyhan brings over 28 years of expertise in the financial services and insurance sectors to his role as Deputy Commissioner of the New Hampshire Insurance Department. He has been a member of the NHID since 2007.
Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Russian from the College of the Holy Cross and an Associate of Arts in Accounting from McIntosh College, Keith's career began in the United States Army, where he reached the rank of Sergeant, serving as an Electronic Warfare Voice Intercept Specialist and earning a certification as an Arabic Linguist from the Defense Language Institute.
Keith then joined John Hancock Financial Services in 1997, where he held positions ranging from customer service representative to Compliance Director, with responsibilities spanning risk management, administrative operations, and project management.
Beginning his tenure at the NHID as the Examiner in Charge of the Life and Health Market Conduct Unit, he has consistently demonstrated expertise in compliance management, consumer advocacy, and regulatory oversight. In his role as Director of the Consumer Services Unit, Keith was responsible for safeguarding the interests of Granite Staters and has overseen the recovery of $33 million for New Hampshire residents since October 2011.
Keith is a devoted family man, celebrating a 31-year marriage and cherishing his role as the father of three talented children. For 18 years, served as an elected member of the Concord City Council, holding the positions of Ward 7 Councilor and Chair of the Fiscal Policy Advisory Committee.
