Nationwide announces new leadership assignments at Allied Insurance, Nationwide Agribusiness

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2007

Contact:
Mike Palmer 515-508-4253
palmerm2@nationwide.com

Des Moines, Iowa — Nationwide is pleased to announce new leadership assignments in its Des Moines-based operations supporting Allied Insurance and Nationwide Agribusiness.

• Brett Harman has been named to regional vice president of Allied Insurance’s Central States Regional Office. Harman will lead independent channel operations, based in Des Moines, for the region supporting Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Harman joined Nationwide in 1997. Most recently, he served as president of Nationwide Agribusiness. He has more than 20 years of operational experience, and has also held several marketing and underwriting positions during his career. He is a graduate of Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa.

• Gary Douglas has been named president of Nationwide Agribusiness. Nationwide Agribusiness was founded in Iowa in 1909 is the largest insurer in the United States specializing in commercial insurance property, liability, and workers compensation products and services for ag-based cooperatives, independent agribusinesses and farms.

Douglas most recently served as regional vice president of Allied Insurance’s Central States Regional Office and Nationwide regional vice president for New York prior to that. His career at Nationwide began in 1997 and he’s served in a variety of roles since that time. Douglas received his undergraduate degree from St. Cloud State University and his MBA from Eastern Michigan University.

“Brett and Gary’s leadership and focus will be invaluable in taking Nationwide’s property and casualty insurance operations to the next level,” said Steve Rasmussen, President and Chief Operating Officer for Nationwide’s property and casualty insurance operations. “They bring proven track records and outstanding leadership capabilities to their new positions.”

Allied Insurance is a property and casualty insurer established in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1929. Allied operates in 33 states through a network of independent agents with regional offices in Denver, CO; Des Moines, IA; Lincoln, NE; and Sacramento, CA. Allied has been a member of the Nationwide family of companies since 1998, and is responsible for Nationwide’s independent agency system. Information is available at www.alliedinsurance.com.

In 1982, Nationwide® Agribusiness Insurance Company (formerly Farmland Insurance) became a part of Nationwide. Today, Nationwide Agribusiness serves more than 3,700 commercial customers in agribusinesses and adjacent markets, and together with its affiliated companies, Nationwide Insurance and Allied Insurance, is the largest farmowners insurance writer in the country. For more information: www.nationwideagribusiness.com.

Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the world, with more than $160 billion in assets. Nationwide ranks #104 on the Fortune 500 list. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life, farm, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health and productivity services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

^{Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark and On Your Side are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.}