“Leading by example”: Commissioner Lara welcomes new leadership for Insurance Diversity Task Force
News: 2025 Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Advancing diversity within the insurance industry to help achieve greater equity for diverse business communities and insurer board leadership, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today welcomed new leadership of the Insurance Diversity Task Force. The 15-member Task Force elected its newest Chair to be Vikita Poindexter, CEO of Poindexter Consulting Group, and Vice Chair to be Dr. Fabiola Cobarrubias, CEO of Pacific Inpatient Medical Group, at today’s second quarterly meeting, making this the first-ever, all-women leadership team in the history of the Task Force.
“California is leading by example when it comes to promoting diversity to better serve insurance consumers in our richly diverse state,” said Commissioner Lara. “Diversity means business, and we are continuing our mission – now more than ever – to build the bridge that connects our state’s diverse business owners with the nation’s largest insurance industry. I look forward to working with Vikita and Fabiola, and the rest of the Task Force, to continue advancing supplier and governing board diversity that is having a tangible impact on shaping the future of our insurance industry leadership and their community supply chain partnerships.”
“Diversity is not just a value — it is an absolute asset that drives innovation, resilience, and equity across boards and supplier networks,” said incoming Chair Poindexter.
“I want to thank Mark Morales for his outstanding work as chair these past several years championing innovative policies and programs, including leading the launch of our nation’s first Insurance Diversity Index in 2023, a groundbreaking benchmark tool designed to foster greater transparency, progress, and accountability within the insurance sector,” added Commissioner Lara. Outgoing Chair Morales has served as Chair since 2021, and became the first LGBTQ+ person to lead the Task Force.
“I am proud to have led such a dynamic group of leaders who, over the course of a global pandemic, continued to elevate its impact to meet the needs of thousands of diverse business leaders by expanding access to capital and resources through the Department’s annual Summit and its statewide and national partnerships,” stated outgoing Chair Morales.
As a statutorily-codified state body comprised of community leaders, the Task Force identifies and recommends actions to the Commissioner as part of the Department’s nationally recognized Insurance Diversity Program which focuses on accelerating the rate of progress and equity within the insurance industry. Collectively, these efforts promote greater representation among the boards of insurance companies and increase procurement from diverse suppliers, including businesses owned by women, LGBTQ+ people, veterans, disabled veterans, people with disabilities, and historically underrepresented communities.
The Task Force’s next quarterly meeting is scheduled for September 10, 2025.
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Led by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, the California Department of Insurance is the consumer protection agency for the nation's largest insurance marketplace and safeguards all of the state’s consumers by fairly regulating the insurance industry. Under the Commissioner’s direction, the Department uses its authority to protect Californians from insurance rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, oversee insurer solvency to pay claims, set standards for agents and broker licensing, perform market conduct reviews of insurance companies, resolve consumer complaints, and investigate and prosecute insurance fraud. Consumers are urged to call 1-800-927-4357 with any questions or contact us at www.insurance.ca.gov via webform or online chat. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357. Teletypewriter (TTY), please dial 800-482-4833.
