Steven J. Bensinger has been appointed executive vice president and senior financial officer of The Hanover Insurance Group Inc.

Bensinger will take over as chief financial officer in March, replacing Eugene M. Bullis, who will retire later this year.

"We are very pleased to have Steve join our team," said Frederick H. Eppinger, chief executive officer at The Hanover. "He is an extremely talented and seasoned financial executive with extensive property and casualty experience. We are confident we will benefit from his many years of experience as we continue to position our organization to compete and win over the long term."

Bensinger has more than 30 years experience in the financial services business, with most of it in insurance, and in particular, property and casualty insurance.

Before joining The Hanover, he was the executive vice president and chief financial officer of the American International Group Inc. He previously held senior leadership positions at Chartwell Re Corp., Trenwick Group Ltd., and Combined Specialty Group Inc.

Bullis joined The Hanover in 2007. He plans to retire from the company May 10, and will work closely with Bensinger in the interim to ensure a smooth transition in financial leadership, the company said.

"Gene has provided outstanding leadership as chief financial officer of our company, and has done so during a time of great distress and disruption in the economy and the financial markets," said Eppinger.