The Hanover Announces Its Entry Into the West with Seven State Launches
01 12월 2009 - 8:02AM
PR Newswire (US)
- Company Builds Team, Infrastructure and Capabilities to
Capitalize on Increased Momentum - WORCESTER, Mass., Nov. 30
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.
(NYSE:THG), a leading provider of property and casualty insurance,
today announced that it will significantly expand its footprint
January 1, with seven state launches in the West, including
Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and
Washington. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051031/NEM023LOGO ) The
company, which is planning to appoint 200 of the best agents in
these states, has assembled a strong, experienced team of employees
and developed a full suite of middle market, niche and specialty
products for the region. "We are very pleased with the significant
progress we have made and thrilled to begin writing business in
these seven states," said Frederick H. Eppinger, chief executive
officer of The Hanover Insurance Group. "Our launch into the West
is part of a strategic and disciplined approach to growth, which is
enabling us to capitalize on our strong momentum, the increasing
interest in our products and services outside of our current
footprint, and a number of emerging opportunities with some of the
country's best independent agents." Company Offers National
Capabilities, Regional Touch In line with the company's commitment
to offer its agent partners national capabilities with a regional
touch, The Hanover has opened offices in Denver and Sacramento and
plans to open offices in Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and
Seattle. Additionally, The Hanover plans to offer agent partners in
the West access to a full complement of Avenues® commercial lines
products, as well as a distinctive suite of middle market niches,
industry segments and specialty offerings, which align well with
business opportunities in the region. For example, the company will
offer comprehensive solutions for recession resistant business
classes, like the company's human services, hospitality, real
estate, wholesalers and professional services offerings. Agents
also will gain access to programs, inland marine and management
liability solutions. And, in California, The Hanover plans to offer
its full suite of Avenues® small commercial products, as well. "We
are excited that The Hanover has decided to expand into the West,"
said Bill Moreton, president, Moreton & Company. "It is
important for us--especially in the current market--to work with
companies like The Hanover, that have strong capabilities, a
dedication to innovation and the financial strength to back it all
up." "We welcome The Hanover as a new local partner," said Mike
Heffernan, chief executive officer, Heffernan Insurance Brokers.
"The company has a reputation for making a personal commitment to
understanding the needs of independent agents and our customers,
enabling us to provide unique solutions that will protect our
clients against the growing number of risks they face." Assembles
Committed and Talented Team The Hanover's announcement follows the
appointment of John Casper as regional president, West in June.
Over the last six months, Casper has hired a number of local
executives in building a strong, talented team. For example, he
attracted John Buckalew who will serve as The Hanover's regional
vice president, California. Buckalew joined The Hanover from The
Hartford, where he previously was responsible for the company's
office in Sacramento and was well-known to agents as a
knowledgeable, resourceful partner. Additionally, Craig Mogielnicki
joined the team in the West as regional marine field director for
California. Prior to joining The Hanover, he served as branch
manager/management account executive for Travelers' Sacramento
office, where he was responsible for property and inland marine
business. And most recently, Steve Sanchez was tapped as senior
commercial lines middle market underwriter for The Hanover's new
Colorado operation. Sanchez comes to The Hanover from The Hartford,
where he served as middle market sales underwriter, responsible for
new business growth and profitability for the company's Colorado
and Arizona markets. Overall, The Hanover team in the region is
expected to be at approximately 40 people by the end of the first
quarter. "We are in a dynamic market and have never been in a
better position to build our team, infrastructure and capabilities
countrywide, enabling us to make good on our promise to be the best
partner for winning independent agents," said Marita Zuraitis,
president of The Hanover's property and casualty companies.
"Throughout the West, we are bringing on highly talented
individuals to help leverage our strong capabilities and drive
growth. We already have made significant progress, but, we are just
getting started." About The Hanover The Hanover Insurance Group,
Inc. (NYSE:THG), based in Worcester, Mass., is the holding company
for a group of insurers that includes The Hanover Insurance
Company, also based in Worcester; Citizens Insurance Company of
America, headquartered in Howell, Mich., and their affiliates. The
Hanover offers a wide range of property and casualty products and
services to individuals, families and businesses through an
extensive network of independent agents, and has been meeting its
obligations to its agent partners and their customers for more than
150 years. Taken as a group, The Hanover ranks among the top 30
property and casualty insurers in the United States.
Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this release may
be forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Use of the words "anticipates,"
"expects," "plan" and similar expressions is intended to identify
forward-looking statements. Comments in this release regarding the
number of agent appointments; number of new employees and offices
to be opened are forward-looking statements. The company cautions
investors that any such forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance, and actual results could differ
materially. Investors are directed to consider the risks and
uncertainties in its business that may affect future performance
and that are discussed in readily available documents, including
the company's annual report and other documents filed by The
Hanover with the Securities and Exchange Commission and which are
also available at http://www.hanover.com/ under "Investors".
CONTACTS: Investor Relations Media Relations Oksana Lukasheva Amy
Lynn Banek E-mail: E-mail: 1-508-855-2063 1-508-855-4486
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051031/NEM023LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: The Hanover Insurance
Group, Inc. CONTACT: Investor Relations, Oksana Lukasheva,
+1-508-855-2063, ; Media Relations, Amy Lynn Banek,
+1-508-855-4486, , both of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. Web
Site: http://www.hanover.com/
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