Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions
01/12/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/13/2026 18:07
Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions Welcomes New Director
PHOENIX, AZ- The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) is pleased to welcome Charles Bassett, appointed by Governor Hobbs to serve as the agency's Director. A veteran public policy attorney with over 30 years of experience, Mr. Bassett brings a wealth of expertise in insurance law and healthcare policy to the Department.
Director Bassett joins DIFI following an extensive tenure at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ), where he served as Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy since 2004. In that role, he led all facets of government relations, managed state and federal legislative affairs, and served as a key advisor to executive leadership on complex regulatory issues.
His career is marked by professional excellence and community involvement, including serving as the Co-Chair of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry's Healthcare Committee and as a member of the Arizona Society of Healthcare Attorneys. He holds a Juris Doctorate and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Arizona and has been a member of the State Bar of Arizona since 1991.
Mr. Bassett succeeds Maria Ailor, who has served as Interim DIFI Director since May 2025. The Department extends its gratitude to Ms. Ailor for her leadership and her 30 years of dedicated public service to the State of Arizona.
Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions published this content on January 12, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 14, 2026 at 00:07 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]