Commerce Insurance Group Reorganizes at Top

The board of directors of The Commerce Group, Inc. has created two new positions to lead the company’s property and casualty insurance operations within and beyond Massachusetts.

“As Commerce continues to grow and diversify, these leadership positions for our insurance operations will enable us to focus on the distinct needs of the two primary segments of our business,” said Gerald Fels, president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of The Commerce Group, Inc.

The company’s Massachusetts insurance operations, comprised of The Commerce Insurance Company and Citation Insurance Company, will be led by James A. Ermilio, who has been named executive vice president for Massachusetts Insurance Operations.

The second new position will lead the company’s insurance operations beyond Massachusetts, comprised of American Commerce Insurance Company, based in Columbus, Ohio, and Commerce West Insurance Company, based in Pleasanton, California. The company said it expects to fill this position shortly.

These two business segments were led by Gerald Fels in his former role as president and chief operating officer of the company’s insurance subsidiaries.

In January, CEO and Chairman of the Board Arthur J. Remillard, Jr. announced his intention to retire at the end of July of this year, culminating a 40 year career in the property and casualty insurance industry. Remillard, Jr., who founded The Commerce Insurance Company in 1971 along with numerous affiliated companies, has served as the CEO and Chairman of the Board of The Commerce Group, Inc. since its inception in 1976. Remillard, Jr. plans to continue as a director of The Commerce Group, Inc.

Following that announcement, Fels was elected president, chief executive officer, and chairman of the board.

In support of the two new positions, Arthur J. Remillard, III, has been named executive vice president, Policyholder Benefits. In this role, Remillard will be responsible for managing the claims functions for Commerce Group’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries countrywide.

In conjunction with these changes, Ermilio will continue to serve as general counsel of The Commerce Group, Inc. and has been named executive vice president and secretary of Commerce Group. With Ermilio also assuming the new role of executive vice president, Massachusetts Insurance Operations, the board elected Louise M. McCarthy to succeed Ermilio as senior vice president and general counsel of the company’s insurance subsidiaries. McCarthy formerly served as vice president and senior counsel for those operations. Prior to joining the company, McCarthy served as legal counsel for OneBeacon Insurance Group and, previously, for the Massachusetts Division of Insurance.

The directors also elected Robert E. McKenna, vice president, treasurer and chief accounting officer, replacing Randall V. Becker, who will continue to serve as senior vice president and chief financial officer, as well as maintain responsibility for Investor Relations. McKenna, who has been with the company for 16 years, was elected assistant vice president in 1994, later becoming vice president, internal audit and chief compliance officer, positions he has held since 2001.

The Commerce Group, Inc. is headquartered in Webster, Massachusetts. Property and casualty insurance subsidiaries include The Commerce Insurance Company and Citation Insurance Company in Massachusetts, Commerce West Insurance Company in California, and American Commerce Insurance Company in Ohio.

Source: The Commerce Insurance Group