Barbara D. Richardson
Director
Barbara D. Richardson joined the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) in March of 2023. Director Richardson brings an impressive resume of regulatory and industry experience to DIFI. Prior to her leadership appointment at DIFI, Richardson led the Nevada Division of Insurance as its Commissioner, a position she held since March of 2016. Prior to leading that agency, Richardson served for twelve years as the Director of Operations and Fraud for the New Hampshire Insurance Department. Additionally, she has worked at various times in her career for CNA, Kemper Financial, the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago and Putnam Securities.
Richardson is a graduate of Vassar College, has a law degree from the University of New Hampshire School of Law, and an MBA from Loyola University in Chicago. She taught Insurance Law at the University of New Hampshire School of Law and Paralegal courses at Franklin Pierce College. On a national level, she has been an active member on various committees, task forces and work groups of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), including most recently, the Market Regulation and Consumer Services Committee, the Life Insurance Committee, the Innovation Task Force, and the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission. Richardson is a member of the National Institute for State Credit Union Examination Board of Trustees and a member of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors Fintech Forum.
Deian Ousounov
Chief Deputy Director of Finance
Deian Ousounov joined the Arizona Department of Insurance in February 2020 as the Regulatory Legal Affairs Officer. In July 2020, Deian helped oversee the transition of the Department of Insurance into the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI).
Deian has held a variety of roles during his tenure with DIFI. Prior to his promotion to Chief Deputy Director of Finance, Deian managed the Department’s investigative, legal and enforcement functions as the Assistant Director of the Department’s Enforcement, Innovation and Regulatory Policy Division.
Prior to joining DIFI, Deian spent over five years with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, working in various divisions and representing the Department of Insurance before the Arizona Office of Administrative Hearings on all administrative and enforcement matters.
Deian completed his bachelors of science degree at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) and attained his J.D. from the Arizona Summit Law School.
In his free time, Deian enjoys a variety of activities and is an avid tennis and soccer player.
Lori Dreaver Munn
Deputy Director of Insurance
Lori Dreaver Munn joined the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) in May 2024 as the Assistant Director of Insurance and was promoted to Deputy Director of Insurance in November. Before joining DIFI, she was the Director of Compliance and Government Relations at an advisory organization for the insurance industry. Her focus over the last several years has been on product compliance, government relations, insurance education, technology and modernization of insurance utilizing technology such as AI and blockchain. Lori brings over 20 years of insurance knowledge to DIFI, holding previous positions in government relations, underwriting and compliance at Scottsdale Insurance (Nationwide), Sentry and Markel as well as having managed her own insurance compliance consulting firm.
Lori completed a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University and is active with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals (AICP).