Electric Insurance Co., a Beverly-based national provider of personal and commercial lines insurance, has elected John (Jack) Farady to the company’s board of directors and appointed him to the audit committee.

Most recently, Farady worked as senior vice president of mergers and acquisitions at John Hancock Financial Services. He retired after 27 years in 2004, when Hancock merged with Manulife Financial.

"The objective of our company is to maintain a strong financial position while growing profitably during this tenuous economic climate.  The knowledge and relations that Jack brings to our company will be a valuable asset in the execution of Electric Insurance Company’s corporate strategy," said Electric Chairman and CEO Marc Meiches. "We look forward to the industry expertise and objective advice Jack can provide as we move forward with growing our business."