Selective Insurance Group is the 60th largest property/casualty insurer in the United States with net written premiums of $1.1 billion. Located in Branchville, N.J., Selective focuses its sales channel entirely on independent agents. To help make life simpler for agents selling Selectives commercial lines products, the insurer established a service center where the company handles all service and policy administration tasks for agents who enroll in the program. At the end of 2002, Selective announced the service center had reached two milestones less than two years after opening for business: the signing of its 100th agency partnership and the servicing of more than $20 million in premiums. Tech Decisions recently spoke with Richard F. Connell, executive vice president and CIO of Selective Insurance Group, Inc., and Craig G. Borens, vice president and director of the service center, about using technology to enhance both the carrier-agent relationship and the companys business in general.

Connell manages the companys technology strategy, automation system development and e-business technology, data processing operations, and voice and data communications. Before joining Selective in August 2000, he was chief technology officer for Liberty Mutual Insurance Group. He also was president of Liberty Mutuals software development subsidiary in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He previously worked for 23 years with Aetna Life and Casualty, where he held various information technology management positions both domestic and international.

Craig G. Borens, vice president and service center director for Selective Insurance, has been with Selective since February 2001. Prior to joining Selective, Borens spent 13 years with the Ohio Casualty Group in various capacities, including underwriting/operations manager, where he was responsible for launching and overseeing two call center operations.