AUGUSTA – Superintendent of Insurance Alessandro Iuppa submitted his resignation to the governor’s office last week.

Iuppa has been with the Bureau of Insurance since 1994, when he was named the deputy superintendent. In 1998, he was appointed by former Gov. Angus King to his current position. He was reappointed by Gov. John Baldacci in 2002.

In his short resignation letter, dated Nov. 20, Iuppa gave only a vague reason for his departure and wrote that during his time in Maine he had “always endeavored to do the right thing, right by Maine law and right for the people of Maine. I believe that I achieved that goal.

“Nonetheless, there comes a point in one’s career when it is time to move on to new challenges and that time has come for me,” Iuppa wrote.

His resignation takes effect Jan. 13.

Deputy Superintendent Eric Cioppa will become the acting superintendent.

Cioppa has been with the bureau for 18 years, becoming deputy superintendent in 1998. His responsibilities have as deputy included oversight of financial examinations and market conduct.

Cioppa described Iuppa as an effective superintendent and a good leader.

“He was always very ethical and very scrupulous about making sure decisions comported with Maine law and serve the people of the state,” Cioppa said of Iuppa.

Iuppa became embroiled in the controversy surrounding the governor’s Dirigo Health reform plan. It fell to Iuppa’s office to determine whether the universal health insurance plan and associated cost controls actually saved money for insurance companies. His determination is then used to determine how much the insurance companies are assessed to fund Dirigo. Known as the savings offset payment, the assessment is one of the most contentious issues surrounding Dirigo Health.

The superintendent is responsible for overseeing Maine’s insurance industry and for reviewing proposed rate changes.

Before joining the Bureau of Insurance, Iuppa was a consultant to state governments. From 1986 to 1991, he was the deputy commissioner and commissioner of insurance in Nevada.

Messages left with Iuppa’s office were not returned Wednesday afternoon.