New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced Marlene Caride, commissioner of the state’s Department of Banking and Insurance, left her position to join the Judiciary as a judge of the New Jersey Superior Court. Department Chief of Staff Justin Zimmerman became acting commissioner beginning June 27.
Caride joined Murphy’s cabinet on his first day in office on Jan. 16, 2018, following six years of service in the New Jersey General Assembly representing Bergen and Passaic counties.
“From the start of our administration, Marlene Caride has been a vital part of our team and a leader in advocating the interests of our residents and connecting families to quality, affordable health insurance,” Murphy said. “She has served the state of New Jersey admirably as a member of the Legislature and as commissioner of banking and insurance. We thank her for her service and know she will continue to benefit the great state of New Jersey as a member of the New Jersey Superior Court.”
“Justin Zimmerman has been a steady presence at the department of banking and insurance since the beginning of my administration and has done an excellent job leading his fellow team members throughout his tenure as chief of staff,” Murphy said. “Justin’s hard work and skill has led to the implementation of crucial policies that have protected and benefited countless residents throughout our state. I thank and commend Justin for his dedication and look forward to his continued leadership of the department in this new role.”
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities the governor has afforded me to serve the residents of the state as commissioner of banking and insurance over the last five years, and to continue serving the public on the Superior Court,” Caride said. “Together, we were able to create a stronger and fairer New Jersey by protecting consumers and improving access to health care at a time when it was needed most, and I know that work will continue. Having had the privilege to work with Justin these past five years, I know that his experience, strong public policy background and commitment to the goals of this administration will greatly benefit the residents of this state. Under his leadership the department will continue its mission of protecting our consumers and promoting the growth, financial stability and efficiency of the industries we regulate.”
“I am deeply honored to serve the Murphy administration as acting commissioner and thank the governor for his confidence. It has been a privilege to work in partnership with Commissioner Caride to advance the initiatives of the administration over the last five years, and I wish her the very best as a member of the Judiciary,” Zimmerman said. "I look forward to continuing the important work of the department to ensure that New Jersey’s residents are protected, have access to quality, affordable health insurance and that the department’s regulated entities operate in accordance with the law.”
Zimmerman joined the department in January 2018, serving as the department’s chief of staff, where he oversees the executive management team and manages all aspects of the department’s policy implementation, under the direction of the commissioner.
During his tenure as chief of staff, the department developed and implemented numerous consumer protections and programs impacting countless New Jerseyans, including New Jersey’s out of network law, student loan protections, mortgage servicers licensing, expanded reproductive health care access, and Get Covered New Jersey.
Prior to joining Murphy’s administration, Zimmerman served as chief of policy and legislation to the New Jersey State Senate president pro tempore, where he focused on expanding access to quality affordable health care for New Jerseyans, expansion of voting rights and civil rights. He began his career as a public servant working as a briefing aide to Gov. Jon Corzine and director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs for the New Jersey Department of State.
Zimmerman was born and raised in New Jersey, growing up in Essex and Union counties. He received his bachelor of arts from the University of Mary Washington. He lives in Verona with his wife, Laura, and their two children.