Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | July 27, 2026 | Worcester Business Journal 3 BY ERIC CASEY WBJ Managing Editor A er 20 years at e Hanover Insurance Group, John "Jack" Roche will retire as president and CEO at the end of the year. "I will retire at the end of the year with tremendous pride in all our organization has accomplished," Roche said in a July 15 announcement from the firm. "e company is in a strong financial position and has the exceptional talent needed to drive our business forward." Roche joined Worcester's largest publicly traded company in 2006 and was named its leader in 2017. He frequently appeared on WBJ's Power 100 list of the most influential professionals in Central Massachusetts, including this year. Richard "Dick" Lavey has been named CEO-elect by the board of directors. Lavey is currently chief operating officer of Hanover Insurance and president of Hanover Agency Markets, the firm's main personal and commercial insurance division. "Having worked closely with Dick for more than two decades, I have complete confidence in his leadership and his ability to guide our company forward," Roche said. Lavey joined Hanover in 2004. He is a graduate of e College of Holy Cross in Worcester and obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School. He has previously served as the firm's chief marketing officer and chief growth innovation officer. Hanover achieved record earnings under Roche's leadership. In 2025, the company generated $6.6 billion in revenue, up from $4.3 billion when he took over in 2017. e company's net income in 2025 was $663 million. "He has driven progress in every dimension of the company, not the least of which is working closely with the board and with Dick to ensure that we have an exceptional CEO to elevate the company to its next level," Hanover Board Chair Cynthia Egan said in a statement. Hanover's stock price sat at $215 per share on the New York Stock Exchange as of July 21, up about 20% since the beginning of the year. e stock price has increased 9% since the announcement of the CEO succession plan. bankHometown= TruNorth "At $8+ billion [in assets], we have the ability to offer the products and services and the technology of the bigger banks, but we still have the approachability, the responsiveness, the heart and soul of a community bank." Robert Morton, TruNorth Bank market president for Central Massachusetts and Northeastern Connecticut, on Oxford-based bankHometown rebranding as TruNorth following its parent company's merger. New CEO "This really does feel full circle. Rainier is one of the places where I learned how to do this work: how to understand the technology, respect the client and care about the story enough to get it right." Sarah LaLiberte, new CEO of Westborough technology public relations firm Rainier Communications, on taking over leadership and eventual ownership after Steve Schuster led the company for 33 years. Glass Tower refi "Over the last six years, 446 Main Street has undergone a complete transformation. New lobbies, a tenant-only fitness center, the addition of Vivienne, and Vue, a cocktail lounge on the 24th floor overlooking the city, have redefined the building experience." David Greaney, founder and CEO of Boston developer Synergy, on the $25.3-million refinancing of The Glass Tower in Worcester. Synergy purchased it for $16.5 million in 2019. Hanover Insurance CEO Roche to retire, Lavey named successor W PHOTOS | COURTESY OF HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP Richard "Dick" Lavey John "Jack" Roche

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