Farmers Insurance, a California-based personal lines insurer, has named Scott Stice and Joe Richardson, to newly-created senior officer positions effective January 2012.

As head of field execution, Stice will help direct the insurer’s growth plans.

Previously, Stice spent 10 years in the field, first as a Farmers agent, then as a district manager.

In 2000, Stice became a Farmers employee and has served as state executive director of Illinois; vice president of agencies; vice president of distribution strategies; senior vice president of field operations; and, most recently, as head of Eastern Market Operation.

As head of expansion markets, Richardson will help oversee the company’s spreading of the Farmers brand into new markets.

Richardson comes to Farmers after having spent the last 33 years with the Allstate Insurance Company, most recently as senior vice president of distribution, marketing and customer experience.

Farmers head of distribution Mhayse Samalya said that both Scott Stice and Joe Richardson come to their new positions with a strong record of success. As they move forward, Scott and Joe will be key to meeting their goals of growing profitably and geographically in the coming years.