ST. PAUL SEARCHES FOR NEW CHIEF

On Aug. 25, The St. Paul Companies began the search for its next chief executive following a mutual decision that president and chief operating officer James E. Gustafson, 53, would leave the company. Arrived at by both Gustafson and the board, the decision was made after it became increasingly apparent that there was not a fit between The St. Paul and Gustafson’s “considerable skills.” Gustafson was the leading candidate to take over for CEO Douglas Leatherdale, 63, when he retires in 2002. While the search is on, Leatherdale will fulfill the COO’s responsibilities, as he did before Gustafson joined The St. Paul. Gustafson is expected to leave the company in a matter of weeks.