Erie Names Two Executive Vice Presidents

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August 26, 2010 Thursday 02:21 PM EST

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Erie Names Two Executive Vice Presidents

Caroline J Saucer

ERIE, Pa.

Erie Indemnity Co. said it has appointed two executive vice presidents. John F. Kearns has been named to the newly created position of executive vice president, sales and marketing. Kearns will oversee the company's sales and agency and the strategic marketing divisions. The company also appointed George "Chip" D. Dufala executive vice president of services. Dufala will oversee the claims and corporate services divisions.

Kearns joined the company in 2007 as senior vice president and division officer of commercial lines underwriting. He began his career in the insurance industry in 1976 at Sun Alliance in Dublin, Ireland. A native of Dublin, Kearns served as chief executive officer of St. Paul Ireland. Before coming to Erie, he was president of financial and professional services at St. Paul Travelers.

Dufala had served as senior vice president of Erie Family Life Insurance Co., a member of the Erie Insurance Group of companies. He joined Erie in 1993 in field operations and has since held several leadership positions, including regional vice president and senior vice president of customer service operations. The company is conducting a search for a new senior vice president of Erie Family Life.

Also, Eric Root is succeeding Kearns in leading Erie's commercial operations. Root has been with Erie since 1993. He most recently served as senior vice president and branch manager for field operations throughout northwestern Pennsylvania.

Shares of Erie (NASDAQ: ERIE) were trading at $51.28 a share the morning of Aug. 26 -- up .65% from the previous close.

August 27, 2010

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