State Auto Financial Corp. is experiencing some of the first major executive and organizational changes since former Fireman’s Fund CEO Michael LaRocco formally took over in May.

A key element of this involves new leadership for or realignment at the company’s key business units: personal Lines (including farm and ranch), small commercial, commercial lines (middle market and large) and specialty.

“With these changes, I’m confident we’re building an organization that is aligned and focused on our goal to grow profitably in every line and win in the marketplace,” LaRocco said in prepared remarks.

Kim Garland, most recently chief product officer of AIG’s consumer division, is now a State Auto senior vice president, standard lines and will handle its personal lines business and small commercial business. As well, he’ll be managing director of State Auto Labs – a new small incubator/research and development arm of the insurer designed to develop new capabilities and property/casualty opportunities for State Auto.

Jessica Buss, senior vice president, specialty lines, has added middle market and large commercial business to her responsibilities.

Greg Tacchetti joins State Auto as senior vice president and chief information/strategy officer. He was CEO of AssureStart, a company that sells small business insurance online.

There’s also Paul Stachura, who signed onto State Auto as senior vice president and chief claims and loss control officer. He has a similar executive role right now at QBE North America.

State Auto announced it hired LaRocco at the end of March, though shareholders made it official at the insurer’s May meeting. He replaced Robert Restrepo, who will stay on as chairman until he retires on Dec. 31, 2015.

State Auto is an Ohio-based super regional property/casualty insurance holding company.

Source: State Auto