WORCESTER, Mass., June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Hanover Insurance
Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG), a leading super regional property and casualty
company, announced today that it has been recognized as a Laureate Finalist by
IDG's Computerworld Honors Program, for technology initiatives that deliver on
the company's promise to provide agent partners with world class competitive
products and simplified business processes.
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The Hanover was recognized as a Laureate Finalist in the 'Finance,
Insurance and Real Estate' category, along with the Chicago Stock Exchange,
Fidelity Investments, The Bank of New York and JP Morgan Chase.
"We are very pleased to be recognized by Computerworld and to be honored
along with four of the best companies in the world in their respective
fields," said Marita Zuraitis, president of The Hanover's property and
casualty companies. "It is especially gratifying to win this award in
recognition of the technology solutions we have implemented to benefit our
agent partners and their customers."
Established in 1988, the annual Computerworld Honors Program is dedicated
to identifying and recording the accomplishments of the men and women,
organizations and institutions that are creating the global best practices in
leading the world's ongoing IT revolution.
This year's winners were selected from more than 1,000 submissions,
representing 23 countries on six continents. The Hanover was nominated by
Keane, Inc., a strategic technology partner.
"Each year, the Computerworld Honors Program seeks to recognize
organizations that use information technology to benefit society," said Bob
Carrigan, Chairman of the Computerworld Honors Program Chairmen's Committee
and President of IDG's Communications. "This year, we are proud to recognize
The Hanover as one of our Laureates."
In presenting the award, Computerworld recognized three specific
achievements by The Hanover, which is committed to developing and implementing
technology improvements that deliver outstanding products and services to
agent partners and policyholders:
* The Agency Place, a Web portal that provides the company's agent
partners with valuable information, automation tools and applications
to transact business on a daily basis.
* Connections(TM) Auto, a multi-variate auto insurance product that uses
sophisticated segmentation modeling that gives agents the ability to
quote, underwrite and issue business for approximately 95 percent of
the market, helping to grow their businesses.
* The Hanover's on-line point-of-sale applications, which have made it
faster, simpler and more efficient for our agents to do business with
the company, including single sign-on capabilities, simplified front-
end screens and reduced paperwork.
"Our commitment to advanced information technology helps us to build deep
partnerships with our agent partners and policyholders and deliver the world
class products and services they deserve," said Greg Tranter, senior vice
president and chief information officer of The Hanover.
About The Hanover
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., based in Worcester, Mass., is the
holding company for a group of insurers that includes The Hanover Insurance
Company, also based in Worcester, Citizens Insurance Company of America,
headquartered in Howell, Michigan, and their affiliates. The Hanover offers a
wide range of property and casualty products and services to individuals,
families and businesses through an extensive network of independent agents,
and has been meeting its obligations to its agent partners and their customers
for more than 150 years. Taken as a group, The Hanover ranks among the top 35
of the more than 950 property and casualty insurers in the United States.
About the Computerworld Honors Program
Founded by International Data Group (IDG) in 1988, the Computerworld
Honors Program is governed by the not-for-profit Computerworld Information
Technology Awards Foundation. In its 18th year, Computerworld Honors is the
longest running global program to honor individuals and organizations that use
information technology to benefit society. Each year, the program's Chairmen's
Committee, a group of 100 Chairmen/CEOs of global technology companies,
nominates individuals and organizations around the world whose visionary
application of information technology promotes positive social and economic
progress. Nominations are evaluated by an independent board of CIO-level
judges who select laureates, finalists and award winners, in 10
industry-related categories, to be honored at a Laureate Medal Ceremony. This
year's ceremony and accompanying Gala Awards Program will take place on June
5, 2006 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.
CONTACTS:
Investor Relations Media Relations
Sujata Mutalik Amy Lynn Banek
smutalik@hanover.comabanek@hanover.com
(508) 855-3457 (508) 855-4486
SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.