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Charles Bassett was appointed as Arizona’s Director of the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) by Gov. Katie Hobbs effective Jan. 12, 2026. 

A veteran public policy attorney with more than 30 years of experience, Director Bassett brings a wealth of expertise in insurance law and health care policy to the department. Director Bassett joins DIFI following a long tenure at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ), where he served as vice president of government relations and public policy since 2004. In that role, he led all facets of government relations, managed BCBSAZ’s state and federal legislative affairs, and served as a key advisor to executive leadership and the board of directors on complex regulatory issues.

Prior to his leadership at BCBSAZ, Director Bassett served as an associate attorney at Low & Childers, P.C., where he focused on insurance regulatory law. He also held legal roles in the Arizona House of Representatives, including rules attorney and legal counsel to the Rules and Ethics Committees.

Community involvement has been central to Director Bassett’s career. Most recently, he served on the Arizona Chamber of Commerce Health Care and Public Affairs Committee and was a member of the Arizona Society of Healthcare Attorneys. He has also been involved with the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Citizens for the Arts, and the Fiesta Bowl Committee. 

Director Bassett earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ) and has been a member of the State Bar of Arizona since 1991.