NEW YORK (Bloomberg) — Deloitte & Touche LLP, the US accounting and consulting firm, hired New York Insurance Superintendent Howard Mills to advise insurance clients.Mr. Mills, 42, will start at the closely held New York-based firm next month, he said yesterday. Deloitte counts MetLife Inc., the biggest US life insurer, and Allstate Corp., the largest publicly-traded US home and auto insurer, among its clients.

Mr. Mills, who was nominated to be the state’s top insurance regulator by Republican Governor George Pataki in December 2004, oversaw an office of 900 employees and helped New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer in industry probes that led to more than $3 billion in fines and restitution.

Mr. Spitzer, who was elected governor last month, picked Eric Dinallo, a former deputy, to replace Mr. Mills earlier this month.

“Part of my job is to continue to do some of the things I’ve really enjoyed as superintendent, such as speaking out on issues important to the industry including support for a federal terrorism insurance programme,” Mr. Mills said.

Deloitte spokeswoman Suzanne Beckmann confirmed Mills was hired and declined to comment further.