NU Online News Service, Aug. 21, 2:17 p.m. EDT

Selective Insurance Group Inc. announced it has appointed abranding specialist to its board of directors to improve the morethan 80-year-old company's marketing.

Former PepsiCo branding chief executive Cynthia "Cie" S.Nicholson was named to its board of directors earlier this week,the Branchville, N.J.-based property and casualty insurer said.

Ms. Nicholson was senior vice president and chief marketingofficer of PepesiCo North America where she specialized inbranding. At PepsiCo she worked on branding Pepsi, Mountain Dew,Sierra Mist, Aquafina, IZZE, SoBe, and AMP Energy. She also workedon joint ventures with Starbucks and Unilever for Lipton Tea.

Selective said she was responsible for brand strategy, productand package innovation, insights, sports marketing, media, digitalmarketing and national and customer promotions.

"Cie has extensive marketing and management experience that willprovide us with a new perspective," said Gregory E. Murphy, theunderwriter's chairman, president and chief executive officer."We're excited to have her on our board and anticipate hercontribution to the direction of our marketing efforts to agentsand customers."

Gail Peterson, a spokeswoman for Selective, said the companyanticipates Ms. Nicholson will contribute to the company'smarketing efforts to both it distribution network andpolicyholders, noting her strong management skills and extensivebackground with PepsiCo.

"We're looking to her for direction on marketing efforts to ouragents and customers," said Ms. Peterson.