Michael LaRocco has been named president and chief operating officer of Seattle-based Safeco Insurance Companies, the company said, a position which had been eliminated several years ago.
A 27-year insurance veteran, Mr. LaRocco started his career at Progressive and later held executive positions at GEICO. He joined Safeco in 2001 to lead the company's personal lines enterprise.
In his expanded role, Mr. LaRocco will bring together the company's property-casualty operations and have profit-and-loss responsibility for all of Safeco's product lines, including product development, underwriting, claims, service, sales, distribution and market research, the carrier said.
"Mike led Safeco's transformation to automated underwriting, and he has a deep understanding of the business," said Paula Rosput Reynolds, Safeco's chief executive officer, in a statement. "Moreover, Mike wants to win in the marketplace, and I believe he has the insights and drive necessary to deliver results in the years ahead."
Ms. Reynolds was named CEO in December, replacing Mike McGavick, who resigned to make a run for the U.S. Senate. A company spokesman said the COO position had been abolished by Mr. McGavick.
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