Safeco® and Liberty Northwest® Announce New Northwest Regional Operations

Coordinated Personal and Commercial Lines to Deliver More Value to Agents

Seattle, WA and Portland, OR - November 13, 2008 – Safeco Insurance and Liberty Northwest, both Liberty Mutual Agency Markets companies, recently announced key management appointments to lead their respective personal and commercial lines operations in their Northwest territory.

Ms. Rebecca L. Fann has been named Vice President, Safeco Insurance, and Northwest Regional General Manager. Most recently, Ms. Fann was Vice President and Northwest Regional Executive for Safeco Insurance. In this new capacity, Ms. Fann, who will be based in Seattle,  is responsible for profit and growth throughout Safeco’s five-state Northwest territory. 

Joining Safeco’s Northwest personal lines field operations as Agency Managers and reporting to Ms. Fann are: Ms. Casie L. Bowers, representing Oregon and southwest Washington; Mr. Mark A. Cummings; representing eastern Washington, Idaho, and Montana; and Ms. Angela Thompson, representing Alaska and western/central Washington. Mr. Chuck Blondino has been named Director of Marketing for Safeco Insurance and will also report to Ms. Fann. 

Two new Regional Vice Presidents are joining Liberty Northwest’s commercial lines operations. Mr. Guy DeCosterd will manage Alaska and western Washington, and Mr. Ken Koehler will manage the Portland region. Both come to Liberty Northwest from Safeco Insurance. They form a regional executive team of four that also includes Mr. Mark A. Backstrom, managing eastern Oregon and southern Idaho region, and Mr. Thomas D. Becker who manages the eastern Washington, northern Idaho and Montana region.  

As announced by Liberty Mutual Group on September 22nd, the Agency Markets business unit’s personal lines will be sold under the Safeco brand. Liberty Northwest will be the exclusive provider of commercial lines business in its five-state Northwest territory, where Safeco will also offer personal lines. Strong agency relationships and commitment to the independent agency system will continue to be the hallmarks of both companies. 

“We’re drawing from the strengths in our collective organization to bring the best talent and experience to our regional operations,” said Michael Hughes, Executive Vice President, Agency Markets, and President, Safeco Insurance. “By placing management personnel in regions where they have great familiarity, we strengthen our agency relationships and are able to compete at a much higher level.”

“Our agents can anticipate locally-aligned underwriting support, a broader product line and appetite, and easy-to-use, efficient technology applications,” said Julie Burnett, President and Chief Executive Officer, Liberty Northwest. “With Liberty Northwest’s exclusive focus on  commercial lines, we are supported by a national product development team that will deliver innovative products to market quicker, and competitive pricing tailored to local needs.”   

Safeco and Liberty Northwest are leveraging the new Agency Markets national/regional model to deliver greater resources and an expanded appetite and product set to their agents. Working in close coordination, both operations will provide:

• Local management and pricing with national product development;
• Local agency support with national marketing research and analytics; and
• Local claims and underwriting staffs with a national technology infrastructure.

With industry-leading pricing sophistication and the most expansive offering of any independent agent carrier, Safeco personal lines agents will offer innovative, high-quality personal insurance products. Specialty coverages including Motorcycle, Watercraft, Recreational Vehicle, and Classic Car are available nationally, in addition to Auto, Home, Condo, Rental, and Umbrella coverages.

Liberty Northwest commercial lines agents will continue to focus on the small-to mid-market, offering a best-in-class product portfolio that includes BOP, Packages, Commercial Auto, Workers’ Compensation, Inland Marine, Farm, and Umbrella. Agents will also soon have access to specialty products including mono-line Inland Marine, Excess Casualty and National Programs, such as Sports & Fitness, Self-Storage Insurance, Non-profits, and Insurance Agents E & O, under the Liberty Agency Underwriters™ brand.

About Liberty Northwest

Liberty Northwest Insurance Corp. (libertynorthwest.com) is Oregon’s largest private workers compensation insurer* and is a leading property and casualty insurer with offices throughout the Northwest. Founded in 1983, Portland-based Liberty Northwest distinguishes itself through exceptional customer service, building strong partnerships, and serving the community.

About Safeco

In business since 1923 and based in Seattle, Washington, Safeco sells insurance to drivers and homeowners through a network of independent agents and brokers in eight regions throughout the United States.  

Liberty Northwest and Safeco are part of Liberty Mutual Agency Markets, a business unit of Liberty Mutual Group, consisting of property and casualty and specialty insurance carriers that distribute their products and services primarily through independent agents and brokers. Liberty Mutual Group ranks 94 on the Fortune 500 list of the largest U.S. corporations based on 2007 revenues. The company has financial strength ratings of A (Excellent) from the A.M. Best Company, A2 (Good) from Moody’s Investors Service, and A- (Strong) from Standard & Poor’s.

* Based on the 2005 Department of Consumer and Business Services Report

Contact:

Christopher Goetcheus, 774-279-5923
or [email protected]

Paul Hollie, 206-473-5745
[email protected]