Ealy In, Young Out as President at Allstate’s Encompass

Allstate Insurance Co. said Thomas V. Ealy will become president of its independent agency unit, Encompass Insurance, on Sept. 12.

Ealy will replace Cynthia Young, president since 2006, who has left the company.

Encompass, which sells home and auto policies through about 3,000 independent agents, writes about $1 billion in business, or less than five percent of Allstate’s total premiums sold by its 12,000 contract agents. The Encompass book of business has been shrinking in recent years.

Ealy joins Allstate from Willis Group Holdings, where he most recently served as national partner of the Midwest region for its North American retail operations. Earlier in his career at Willis he served as chief operating officer of its $750 million revenue North American division. Prior to Willis, he was with national broker USI.

Ealy will report to Donald J. Bailey, executive vice president for emerging businesses.

Young’s departure comes after the July exit of Joseph Lacher, president of Allstate Protection, its property/casualty subsidiary, who left the company after being in his job for only two years.

Allstate also announced in May it is spending $1 billion to boost its online sales by acquiring two popular online insurance sellers — Esurance and the associated site, Answer Financial.