Property and casualty insurer Harleysville Insurance Thursday said it has expanded its field sales and underwriting presence in the southeast by opening an office in Charlotte, N.C. The company said the new location will help generate quality business in both the Charlotte and inland South Carolina markets.

Harleysville's southeast regional organization, based in Atlanta, already serves the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee through existing local field offices in Atlanta; Greensboro, N.C.; and Nashville, Tenn.

Robert R. Southard Jr., an Atlanta resident vice president responsible for Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, will oversee the new office. Harleysville spokesman Randy Buckwalter said the company is currently staffing the Charlotte site with field staff and underwriters.

Harleysville broke its service areas into four regions two years ago with the Southeast being one of them, Buckwalter said.

Harleysville Insurance is part of Harleysville Group (NASDAQ:HGIC - News) of Harleysville, Pa., a publicly traded holding company for nine regional insurance companies. The parent company currently operates in 32 eastern and midwestern states.

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Source: Philadelphia Business Journal