Mark A. Blackburn was named executive vice president-chief operating officer of Columbus, Ohio-based regional insurer The State Auto Insurance Companies.
Mr. Blackburn will be responsible for the company's marketing and enterprise risk management efforts, while continuing to oversee State Auto's claims, underwriting and information technology operations.
He joined State Auto in 1999 after holding executive-level positions with Grange Mutual Casualty Group and General Reinsurance Corporation.
Company spokesmen said the COO title is a new position within the company.
The company also said that John R. Lowther, senior vice president, secretary and general counsel, will retire in 2007. Mr. Lowther has resigned, effective immediately, from the boards of directors of State Auto Mutual and State Auto Financial Corporation, but will continue to work with the boards and Chairman and CEO Bob Restrepo as a senior adviser and acting general counsel.
A search for his successor is underway, the company said.
Mr. Lowther worked as an underwriter, agent and claims attorney before becoming an in-house insurance lawyer with JC Penney Casualty Insurance Company in 1978. He spent three years with the Erie Insurance Group before joining State Auto in 1986 as the company's corporate legal counsel.
State Auto Financial Corp. markets its personal and commercial insurance products through more than 22,800 independent insurance agents associated with nearly 3,000 agencies in 27 states. Additional information on the company can be found at www.STFC.com
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