Commissioner Ridling
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Commissioner
Jim L. Ridling
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Jim L. Ridling, a native Arkansan who has lived and worked in Montgomery for
the past 20 years, was appointed State Insurance Commissioner by Gov. Bob Riley
on September 15, 2008.
Commissioner Ridling takes the reins at the Alabama Department of Insurance,
replacing Walter A. Bell.
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Commissioner Ridling is a graduate of the University of the Ozarks. Upon
graduation, he entered a management training program in 1967 with Fireman’s
Fund Insurance, leading to several management positions and culminating in his
service as Executive Vice President of U.S. Operations.
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| In 1987, Commissioner Ridling embraced a new
challenge, leaving California to come back to his native South. He traded his
stock in American Express (which owned Fireman’s Fund at the time) for
ownership in Southern Guaranty, a Fireman’s Fund subsidiary headquartered in
Montgomery. |
| He came to Montgomery as President and Chief
Executive Officer of Southern Guaranty. The following year, Southern Guaranty
sold to Winterthur Swiss, and Commissioner Ridling remained in his previous
role and added the duties of Chairman until his retirement on December 31,
2003. |
| Following his retirement from Southern Guaranty,
Commissioner Ridling remained active. He and other local business leaders
formed River Bank and Trust, where he serves as Vice Chairman today. He has
also been an integral part of many community civic charitable endeavors. |
| Commissioner Ridling serves as Chairman of the
Board of Directors for Jackson Hospital and on the Boards of Directors of the
Montgomery Airport Authority, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and the
Central Alabama Community Foundation. He is a former Chairman of the River
Region United Way and holds memberships on several other boards. |
| He is married to the former Cathy Turner. He has
two daughters. |
