DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services announced the appointment of Julie Pearce as Acting Deputy Insurance Commissioner for Market Regulation. Pearce brings over 19 years of extensive insurance and financial services experience spanning Life, Annuity, and Property & Casualty lines to the role.
Pearce has served as a Holding Company Specialist at the Insurance Division since 2024. In this capacity, she has overseen strategy and risk management for a complex Internationally Active Insurance Group (IAIG), with key focus areas including Cross-Border Reinsurance, Group Capital Calculation, Corporate Governance, AI systems evaluation, financial performance, and ORSA reporting. She has also led efforts on the Property and Casualty Personal Lines Task Force, coordinating industry-leading recommendations to navigate market dynamics surrounding social inflation, natural disasters, and elevated claims activity.
"Julie’s deep industry experience, strong financial background, and proven track record in regulatory oversight and innovation make her an exceptional fit for this role," said Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen. "Her expertise will be instrumental as we continue to maintain fair, competitive, and well-regulated insurance markets for all Iowans."
With Pearce assuming this position, Jared Kirby will transition to the role of Senior Advisor to the Commissioner. In this new capacity, Kirby will focus on leading special projects and strategic initiatives for the Department.
Prior to joining the Department, Pearce worked in the financial services industry for over 15 years, including her latest role at Wellabe (formerly American Enterprise Group), serving as Vice President, Chief Business Development & Transformation Officer. During her tenure, she managed a team overseeing agency sales, innovation, and strategic corporate development. Her previous career highlights also include management roles at Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa and Ernst & Young LLP.
In addition to her professional career, Pearce is an active leader in the broader insurance community. She served as Co-Chair for the 2025 and 2026 Global Insurance Symposiums, presents on emerging technologies like Agentic AI supervision, and acts as a mentor for the Global Insurance Accelerator.
Pearce holds both a Master’s degree in Investment Management and Financial Analysis and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with degrees in Accounting and Finance from Creighton University.