Grange Insurance

Insurance is more than just coverage for your most valuable assets. It's a promise of safety, security and peace of mind. Since 1935, Grange has been delivering on that promise by providing products and services as flexible as your life demands. We offer insurance to protect your home, automobile and business, as well as provide security through life insurance and other financial products.

Grange partners with independent agents who work with you to make it easy to choose products that fit your needs. We're also committed to being the company that is the best at offering Ease of Doing BusinessSM (EODB®) for our policyholders and our agents.

Today we are a financially strong insurance provider with $1.3 billion in annual revenues and $2 billion assets. Located in Columbus, Ohio and rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best, we partner with independent agents who offer auto, home, life and business insurance protection to policyholders in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Grange Selects Robert V. James as New President & CEO

Columbus, Ohio (January 7, 2010) – Grange Insurance announced today that Robert V. James, age 55, has been named president and chief executive officer of the Columbus, Ohio, based insurance provider effective Jan. 18. Retiring president and CEO Phil Urban will serve in an advisory capacity until Feb. 26 to ensure a seamless transition of responsibilities.

“On behalf of the board, I’m excited to welcome Bob to Grange,” said Michael V. Parrott, Grange Mutual Casualty board chairman. “He brings a wealth of diverse industry experience, a high level of executive professionalism and inspiring leadership skills to our company. I’m confident in Bob’s ability to successfully lead Grange and engage our independent agent partners to aggressively grow the organization.”

Bob has more than 36 years of experience in property and casualty insurance with companies such as Allstate, AIG, MetLife and CNA. Most recently, he held the position of senior vice-president of mortgage operations and insurance executive at Bank of America, where he managed the bank’s consumer insurance, commercial insurance and reinsurance operations. Since July 2008, he has improved the company’s net income by $75 million. Prior to joining Bank of America he was the vice-chairman, president and CEO of Countrywide Insurance Group.

“I’m thrilled to join Grange Insurance, recognized in the industry as a great company with an unwavering commitment to the independent agent distribution system,” said James. “As a former agent, I have sold insurance across the kitchen table, at the diner over lunch and on the factory floor, so I understand the important role Grange independent agents play in the lives of their customers while contributing to the success of the company. I’m looking forward to building on that success.”

According to James, Grange’s solid financial foundation will allow the company to develop new product offerings and continue to provide excellent service and quick claims resolution.

“All of these factors, plus the company’s investment in technology and service-oriented culture, make it a very attractive organization that any executive would be proud to lead,” he said.

James and his wife, Sheri, have been active in the community, working with organizations such as Rebuilding Together and both the Los Angeles and Orange County Missions. They have two grown children and two grandchildren, all of whom live in the Portland, Ore., area.