Erie Insurance (ERIE) has named Marion Townes vice president and branch manager for ERIE’s Columbus, Ohio branch. Townes most recently served as a senior district sales manager in the company’s Illinois branch.
Townes started her career at ERIE in 2018 as a district sales manager (DSM) in Kentucky after completing ERIE’s DSM training program. She was promoted to her current role in Illinois in 2020. In 2023, Townes was selected by the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) for the prestigious class of Emerging Leaders.
“I am excited to welcome Marion to our Ohio sales team and look forward to her leadership in Columbus,” said Rick Gordon, regional vice president of ERIE’s west region. “Marion has a proven track record of building strong relationships with agents and driving sales success in multiple ERIE territories.”
Prior to joining ERIE, Townes worked at Farmers Insurance in various marketing, training and sales management roles. She also had a six-year career with Enterprise Rent-A-Car as a manager.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Townes reached non-commissioned officer status. She is also a graduate of the University of Nevada Las Vegas with a bachelor’s degree in business management. In addition, she holds the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) professional designation.
Townes’ leadership appointment in Columbus follows the retirement of branch manager Rob Smith and will be effective April 6.