State Auto Elects Officers

COLUMBUS, Ohio--March 10, 2004--The boards of directors of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company (Mutual) and State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company (P&C) today elected two new officers. Paul Nordman, the companies' director of underwriting, was named a vice president of Mutual and P&C and Ben Blackmon, director of commercial lines underwriting for the companies, was named an assistant vice president of Mutual and P&C. Mr. Nordman was also elected a vice president of State Auto Financial Corporation by that company's board.

During Nordman's 25-year career with State Auto, he has held key positions in underwriting, marketing and sales, both in the field and as a member of corporate staff. He is a graduate of Capital University and has earned his CPCU designation. Prior to his current assignment, Blackmon was manager of the companies' Eastern Regional Office. He began his insurance career as an independent agent and joined State Auto in 1993. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University and has earned the CIC designation.

The State Auto Insurance Companies are engaged primarily in writing both personal and commercial lines of insurance. State Auto currently markets its products through more than 22,000 independent agents associated with approximately 3,400 agencies in 26 central and eastern states, excluding New York, New Jersey and the New England states. The State Auto Insurance Companies' pool carries an A+ (Superior) rating from A.M. Best Co.