Allstate - You're in good hands

10/30/2006 Northbrook, Ill. -

Edward M. Liddy, chairman and chief executive officer of Allstate Insurance Company was one of eight corporate leaders who received the 2006 CEO Diversity Leadership Award from Diversity Best Practices (DBP) and the Business Women's Network (BWN) at the 2006 CEO Diversity Leadership Awards Gala on October 26 in Washington, D.C. Liddy and his fellow awardees were recognized for their deep commitment to diversity and inclusion to drive positive corporate performance.

"Diversity isn't a ïsoft' issue at Allstate, but rather a business strategy that enables us to attract and retain the best talent, drive high performance and provide tailored services to a diverse marketplace," said Liddy. "We are a company that believes in understanding and respecting diverse opinions, thoughts, cultures and people in order to make us better and more effective. This award is affirmation that our efforts in seeking and promoting diversity both in the workplace and in the community are working."

The 2006 CEO Diversity Leadership Awards ceremony is part of the Diversity and Women Leadership Summit & Gala, an annual event hosted by DBP and BWN that brings together major corporations, U.S. government agencies, and entrepreneurs to celebrate and champion diversity.

"Leading from the top and building deep commitment throughout the corporate culture is absolutely critical," said Barry Salzberg, managing partner, Deloitte & Touche USA LLP and chairman of DBP's CEO Initiatives. "These CEOs continually execute best practices, champion diversity and know the importance of creating a legacy."

The other 2006 CEO Diversity Leadership Award winners include:

• Reuben Mark, chairman & CEO, Colgate-Palmolive
• James S. Turley, chairman & global chief executive, Ernst & Young
• Dale L. Gifford, chairman and CEO, Hewitt Associates
• Robert (Bob) L. Nardelli, chairman, president & CEO, The Home Depot
• Patricia F. Russo, chairperson & CEO, Lucent Technologies Inc.
• Richard D. Parsons, chairman & CEO, Time Warner
• Steven R. Rogel, chairman, president & CEO Weyerhaeuser Company

"We come together to recognize leaders for embracing diversity in all aspects of their business," said Edie Fraser, founder and president of DBP and BWN. "The honored leaders are an extraordinary example for endorsing the new American workforce and marketplace, thus serving as an example for other companies to follow."

Diversity Best Practices and the Business Women's Networkare Washington, D.C.-based organizations providing the managerial framework of best practice resources, publications and benchmarking services for diversity and women in business. DBP is a leading resource service that assists leaders and professionals in the development of fully integrated diversity plans. Both are subsidiaries of iVillage Inc., a leading women's media company and number one women's online community.

Now celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of Allstate Insurance Company, The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate^®" slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 14,100 exclusive agencies and financial professionals in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate^®. Encompass^SM and Deerbrook^® Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.