(Bloomberg) -- ProgressiveCorp., the fourth-largest U.S. auto insurer, said Glenn Renwickis stepping down as chief executive officer after more than 15years in that role.

Tricia Griffith, who is chief operating officer of personallines, will replace him as CEO on July 1 and join the board ofdirectors at the time, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based companysaid Thursday in a statement. Renwick will stay on as executivechairman.

She is replacing an executive who won market share by selling coveragedirectly to customers over the phone or Internet,while rivals such as Allstate Corp. and State Farm MutualAutomobile Insurance Co. traditionally depended on agents. He wasalso a pioneer in the use of technology to track customers’ drivinghabits, which allowed him to offer better prices to the safestmotorists. Renwick also pushed into residential coverage with theacquisition last year of ARX Holding Corp.

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“Since he became CEO in 2000, the company’s marketcapitalization has increased by approximately 155% to more than $19billion, and written premiums have more than tripled,” StephenHardis, lead independent director, said in the statement. “Theboard is confident that Tricia’s extensive experience with numerousaspects of the company, operational acumen and exceptional trackrecord make her the ideal candidate to lead Progressive.”

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