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James P. Molinelli to Retire as President, CEO of CSAA

    SAN FRANCISCO--June 11, 2001--James P. Molinelli announced today that he will be retiring next year as President and CEO of the 4-million-member California State Automobile Association.
    Molinelli, who has been in the driver's seat of CSAA since 1996, says the Board of Directors has begun a search for his successor and will consider both internal and external candidates. Molinelli expects to work with the new CEO during a transition period until some time in 2002.
    "Over the past six years, you and I have been engaged in an exciting and challenging process of positioning our 100-year-old organization for success in a new century," Molinelli said in a letter to CSAA's 6,000 employees.
    "Together, we have expanded and enhanced the services we provide to our members, provided greater convenience and value, increased the diversity of our employees and our members, and renewed our historic commitment to community service. Through it all, you worked with tremendous skill, grace and dedication to the needs of our members. I will always be extremely proud of all we have accomplished together."
    Molinelli joined CSAA in 1964 and held a number of leadership roles before becoming president and CEO of the nation's second largest affiliate of AAA, which offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance and financial services. In addition to serving on the national AAA Board, he is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Bay Area Council and the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters of the Insurance Institute of America and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Norman Y. Mineta International Institute for Surface Transportation Policy Studies.
    Molinelli has been an active community leader with a number of philanthropic organizations including the Easter Seal Society, Boys and Girls Clubs, and the Friends of the Elderly. In May of 2000, he was the commencement speaker for the University of San Francisco College of Professional Studies, and received the President's Medal in recognition of his service to USF and the community.
    Noting that the AAA brand is one of the most recognized and trusted in the world, Molinelli said that as the leader of the affiliate in Northern California, Utah and Nevada, his challenge was to modernize the organization's infrastructure, processes, products and services while sustaining the organization's historic bond of trust with its members.
    Under Molinelli's leadership, CSAA expanded service to members, creating 24-hour a day, seven-day a week access, including an award-winning Web site. The organization created and acquired subsidiaries and formal alliances to expand its range of products and services, including Western United and AAA Mountainwest insurance companies and Auto Guardian, an automotive service provider.
    Molinelli also launched a CSAA initiative to support and encourage diversity among its employees and members, and led the organization in renewing its historic commitment to community service by creating a community affairs department.
    "One of my goals was to increase communication between the organization and its Board, members and employees," Molinelli said. He instituted CSAA's popular Member Forum public meetings with members, as well as more frequent open meetings with employee groups. He also oversaw the transformation of CSAA's Board, adding increased business and financial expertise and greater representation of the ethnic and cultural diversity of CSAA's members.
    "CSAA's celebration of its Centennial in 2000 with employees, members and the public inspired recognition and an outpouring of affection that affirmed that CSAA has become a part of the very fabric of California's culture," Molinelli said.
    In anticipation of his retirement, Molinelli has ensured that CSAA has a mix of new and established executive expertise to carry CSAA forward.
    "Over the past several years, we have recruited additional talent to supplement our internal strength, and I am confident that the next CEO will have a proven and experienced management team to assist in building CSAA's success."