Policy expert Ochs selected by NJ Gov. Sherrill as Banking and Insurance Commissioner

Policy Expert Ochs Is NJ Governor Sherrill’s Pick for Banking and Insurance Commissioner

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has announced her intention to nominate Susan Ochs, a financial services and economic policy specialist, as the next Commissioner of the Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI).

Ochs has a background as a senior advisor for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) under the U.S. Department of the Treasury during the Obama Administration. She has also held positions in the Clinton Administration and at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Should Ochs be confirmed by the state Senate, she will take over from Justin Zimmerman, who served as commissioner between November 2024 and the end of 2025. In her new role, she will be responsible for overseeing various markets, including banking, insurance, real estate, and healthcare, as well as heading Get Covered NJ, the state’s healthcare exchange.

Governor Sherrill emphasized the importance of having a leader committed to reducing insurance expenses for New Jersey residents across different sectors, from healthcare to auto insurance.

Currently, Ochs serves as the CEO of Ochs Advisors, a consultancy specializing in leadership and organizational strategy. She is a certified executive coach and also teaches in the Program on Corporate Ethics and Compliance at Fordham Law School.

Her extensive experience includes founding a policy initiative at the Aspen Institute aimed at reforming banking culture, inspired by her work at the U.S. Treasury after the 2008 financial crisis. Ochs has also advised New Jersey on economic matters and acted as a liaison to the business community.

In the corporate world, Ochs has been part of the executive teams of two behavioral research companies within the WPP Group and the Long-Term Stock Exchange, focusing on encouraging long-term thinking among companies and investors. Earlier in her career, she worked in investment roles at J.P. Morgan Investment Management and the private equity firm Solera Capital.

Ochs expressed her commitment to assisting financial consumers during these challenging times in a recent statement, highlighting her enthusiasm for leading an agency dedicated to securing their health and financial interests.

Educated at Harvard Business School with an MBA and holding a BA in Economics from Duke University, Ochs is a Monroe Township resident in Middlesex County and a native of New Jersey.

In summary, Governor Sherrill’s choice of Susan Ochs, a seasoned expert in financial policy and services, to lead the Department of Banking and Insurance sets a promising course for New Jersey’s financial future, promising a dedicated leader focused on the well-being of residents across various sectors.