As we reported here, Alabama Governor Bob Riley announced that Walter A. Bell will be resigning as Alabama’s Insurance Commissioner at the end of August. On September 2, 2008, Governor Riley issued a press release to announce the appointment of Jim L. Ridling as the new Insurance Commissioner. Ridling was a past president and CEO of South Guaranty and is co-founder of River Bank & Trust. He is currently Chairman of the Jackson Hospital and Clinic and Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce’s Military Council boards of directors. Ridling begins his tenure as Insurance Commissioner on September 15.