Josh Hershman was nominated by Governor Ned Lamont to serve as Connecticut’s 34th Insurance Commissioner, leading a department with regulatory oversight of one of the largest and most complex insurance markets in the nation. He brings a combination of regulatory leadership, carrier-building experience, and data-driven policy expertise to the role.

From 2019 to 2022, Josh served as Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer of the Connecticut Insurance Department, where he led efforts to modernize internal operations, strengthen regulatory processes, and support responsible innovation. He later served as Chief Executive Officer of the Immigrant Life Insurance Company of America, a Connecticut-domiciled and wholly owned subsidiary of IDT Corporation, where he helped build an admitted-market life insurance carrier designed to close coverage gaps for immigrant families. Josh also served as Executive Director of openIDL, a Linux Foundation project focused on modernizing insurance data exchange through the development of open data standards, working closely with regulators, insurers, and technology organizations to advance secure, transparent, and efficient regulatory data infrastructure.

Earlier in his career, Josh practiced law with a focus on complex business planning and litigation, advising clients operating in highly regulated environments. He has advised organizations across the insurance sector on regulatory compliance, legal risk, and operational strategy, and has been invited to speak nationally on the intersection of insurance and artificial intelligence. Josh is a long-serving member of the Guilford Fire Commission.