8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported):  January 18, 2005

SELECTIVE INSURANCE GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New Jersey	0-8641		22-2168890
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
40 Wantage Avenue, Branchville , New Jersey		07890
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)
(973) 948-3000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

n/a

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers

 On January 18, 2005, Selective Insurance Group, Inc. issued a press release, announcing that Ronald L. O'Kelley has been appointed to its Board of Directors. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

 (c) Exhibits

                99.1 Press Release of Selective Insurance Group, Inc. dated January 18, 2005.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		Selective Insurance Group, Inc.
Date:  January 18, 2005	By:	/s/ Michele N. Schumacher
		Name:   Michele N. Schumacher
		Title:     Vice President, Corporate Secretary & Corporate Governance Officer

EX-99

SELECTIVE LOGO

Selective Insurance
40 Wantage Avenue
Branchville, New Jersey 07890
www.selective.com

For release on Jan. 18, 2005 at 4:15 p.m. (EST)

Media Contact: Sharon Cooper

973-948-1324, sharon.cooper@selective.com

Investor Contact: Dale Thatcher

973-948-1774, dale.thatcher@selective.com

Selective Insurance Group Names

Ronald L. O'Kelley Director 

Branchville, NJ - Jan. 18, 2005 - Selective Insurance Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SIGI), announced today that Ronald L. O'Kelley has been appointed to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. He will stand for election by shareholders at Selective's Annual Meeting in April 2005. With the appointment, Selective now has a twelve-member board. Mr. O'Kelley is the company's tenth independent director.

"Ronald O'Kelley is an executive of great integrity, who brings an exceptional level of experience and financial acumen to the organization," said William M. Kearns, Jr., Selective's Lead Director and Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee, which oversees nomination of directors. "We are pleased to have him join us and look forward to his contributions as a Director."

It is anticipated that Mr. O'Kelley will be appointed to the Board's Corporate Governance and Finance Committees.

Mr. O'Kelley is chairman and CEO of Atlantic Coast Venture Investments, Inc., a private investment company. He is a certified public accountant and has held numerous executive financial positions, including: executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of State Street Corporation; vice president and chief financial officer of Douglas Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of McDonnell-Douglas Corporation; senior vice president and chief financial officer of Rolls Royce, Inc., and executive vice president of Citicorp Acceptance Company, a subsidiary of Citicorp. Mr. O'Kelley earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics at Duke University, and his MBA at Carnegie-Mellon.

Selective Insurance Group, Inc., headquartered in Branchville, New Jersey, is a holding company for six property and casualty insurance companies that offer primary and alternative market insurance for commercial and personal risks. The insurance companies are rated "A+" (Superior) by A.M. Best. Through other subsidiaries, the company offers medical claim management services; human resources administration services; risk management products and services; and flood insurance policy, administration and claim services. Selective maintains a website at www.selective.com

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