FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 2, 2021

Commissioner Donelon Names New Executive Counsel and Deputy of Public Affairs

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announced today his appointments of James “David” Caldwell, Jr. as Executive Counsel and Rebecca Mowbray as Deputy Commissioner of Public Affairs.

“The Louisiana Department of Insurance is lucky to have recruited someone of David’s caliber and experience to the Executive Counsel position,” said Donelon. “His work in both the public and private sectors as a prosecutor and as a civil litigator gives him a broad base of experience, and his extensive background in criminal investigations will be invaluable to the department as we continue our work in protecting consumers from scam artists.”

Caldwell served as Deputy Director of the Criminal Division of the Louisiana Department of Justice from 2008 to 2016. In that role, he was responsible for the daily operations within the Criminal Division, which included oversight of the Medicaid Fraud, Insurance Fraud and Investigations divisions, and drafted legislation on behalf of the department. While at the justice department, he created the Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Division in 2008 to address the need for focused state enforcement of public corruption and complex white-collar crimes in the state and led the group as its director. Most recently, he has worked in private practice and as Field Counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in Texas.

Caldwell earned a Juris Doctorate from Tulane Law School and studied English and Russian at Louisiana State University.

Mowbray covered property insurance issues and rebuilding for the Times-Picayune after Hurricane Katrina. She worked as a journalist for more than 15 years at the Times-Picayune, the Houston Chronicle, and other publications. Most recently, she served as Assistant Inspector General for Inspections and Evaluations at the City of New Orleans Office of Inspector General.

“Rebecca has really been in the trenches of insurance issues since she covered the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina,” said Commissioner Donelon. “Through her work in journalism, she has honed the ability to make complicated subjects relatable to general audiences and has a keen grasp on what information is important to consumers looking for assistance. I am happy to welcome her to the team.”

Mowbray earned a master’s degree in journalism at Northwestern University and a master’s in international relations at Tufts University. She studied political science and English at Skidmore College.

About the Louisiana Department of Insurance: The Louisiana Department of Insurance works to improve competition in the state’s insurance market while assisting individuals and businesses with the information and resources they need to be informed consumers of insurance. As a regulator, the LDI enforces the laws that provide a fair and stable marketplace and makes certain that insurers comply with the laws in place to protect policyholders. You can contact the LDI by calling 1-800-259-5300 or visiting www.ldi.la.gov.