North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announces two promotions and a new appointment to leadership roles at the N.C. Department of Insurance.
Commissioner Causey has promoted Jerry Daniels as director of human resources effective April 10. In this new capacity, Daniels will be responsible for recruitment, classification and compensation, employee relations, performance management and training. He previously served as the employee relations manager with the department.
Daniels began his career with the state in 2016. He served in the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services in 2016 and 2017 and was with the N.C. Department of Commerce from 2018 to 2022.
Prior to joining the state, Daniels served 26 years in the United States Navy, where he graduated from Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute. He earned his MBA in HR Management from Northcentral University.
Commissioner Causey has also appointed Jason Tyson to serve as the department’s director of communications, effective April 4.
Tyson joined the governor’s press office in 2016 before moving to the N.C. Department of Labor’s communications office. He also served as the director of media relations for the University of North Carolina System and has over 22 years previous experience as a journalist or editor.
Tyson, who is originally from Cumberland County, received dual bachelor’s degrees in English and in History from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and earned his master’s degree at Wake Forest University. He recently served as the director of communications for three N.C. Public Health Associations.
The commissioner has also promoted Barry Smith to the role of deputy director of communications and safety officer.
A native of Chatham County, Barry Smith graduated from Southern Alamance High School in 1974 and received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism degree from UNC Chapel Hill.
Before coming to the Department of insurance in 2017, Smith worked as a journalist for various North Carolina newspapers for 39 years. He recently served as assistant director of public affairs in the department.
“Each of these three appointments will bring a highly experienced public servant into important roles at the N.C. Department of Insurance,” Commissioner Causey said. “I am highly confident that Jerry, Jason and Barry will be strong assets to our team and to the citizens of the state.”