---

State Auto Promotes Johnston, Blackburn

19 August 1999

State Auto Promotes Johnston, Blackburn

    COLUMBUS, Ohio--Aug. 19, 1999-- Steven J. Johnston, chief financial officer and treasurer of State Auto Financial Corporation , was today named senior vice president of STFC and other insurance subsidiaries of the State Auto companies.
    Mark Blackburn, recently hired to manage State Auto's assumed reinsurance operations, was elected vice president of the companies. These actions were taken at the STFC board of directors meeting.
    Johnston joined State Auto in 1982 as manager of commercial lines pricing and was named director of actuarial services in 1990. He was appointed chief financial officer and treasurer in March 1997 and was elected to the boards of all State Auto companies in March 1998. He is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and a fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society. Johnston graduated from Otterbein College with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics.
    Prior to joining State Auto in July 1999, Blackburn was a vice president with General Reinsurance Corporation and most recently was the president and chief operating officer of Grange Mutual Insurance Company. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Ohio State University.
    State Auto Financial Corporation is a regional property and casualty insurance holding company engaged primarily in writing personal and commercial automobile, homeowners, commercial multi-peril, workers' compensation and fire insurance. The Company currently markets its products through more than 12,500 agents associated with approximately 2,200 agencies in 26 states. Products are marketed primarily in the Midwest and Eastern United States, excluding New York, New Jersey and the New England states.