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): May 8, 2002

                             ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           PENNSYLVANIA                   0-24000                 25-0466020
  -------------------------------       -------------        -------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction of       (Commission         (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation)                         File Number)        Identification No.)


100 Erie Insurance Place, Erie, Pennsylvania                      16530
- --------------------------------------------                ----------------
  (Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip Code)

          Registrant's telephone number, including area code (814) 870-2000

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Item 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

On May 8,2002  Erie  Indemnity  Company  issued a press  release  related to the
appointment of a Chief  Executive  Officer which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto
and is incorporated herein by reference.

(c) Exhibits
    --------

Exhibit Number        Description
- --------------        -----------
99.1                  Press release dated May 8, 2002



                                    SIGNATURE

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.



                                    ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY


                                    Erie Indemnity Company
                                ------------------------------
                                       (Registrant)

Date: May 8, 2002               /s/ Philip A. Garcia
                                -------------------------------
                              (Philip A. Garcia, Executive Vice President & CFO)

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Erie Indemnity Company names new CEO

         Erie,  Pa. - May 8, 2002 - Jeffrey A. Ludrof,  CPCU,  AIC, CIC,  LUTCF,
today,  was named the chief  executive  officer of Erie Indemnity  Company,  the
attorney-in-fact  for  the  member  companies  the  Erie  Insurance  Group.  The
company's  board of  directors  voted to accept  the CEO  Selection  Committee's
recommendation  of Ludrof,  who has been with the company  for 22 years.  Ludrof
replaces Stephen A. Milne, who retired as CEO in January of this year.

In making the  announcement,  F.  William  Hirt,  chairman  of the board,  noted
Ludrof's  extensive  knowledge  of the  insurance  industry  and  applauded  his
leadership role in ERIE's continued success.

"A man of great  integrity,  Jeff is passionate about ERIE's service culture and
understands  that this is what sets us apart from our  competitors,"  says Hirt.
"He is the  right  choice  to lead  this  fine  company  to the  next  level  of
excellence and beyond."

Ludrof  began  his  career  with  ERIE  in  1981  as a  claims  adjuster  in the
Allentown/Bethlehem  Branch Office.  Looking to expand his insurance experience,
he took a district  sales  manager  position in 1985 and, just four years later,
was promoted to assistant  vice president and manager of the Erie Branch Office.
In 1993, he was appointed one of the company's first regional vice presidents. A
year later,  he became the senior vice  president  and  division  officer of the
Claims Division.  By 1999,  Ludrof was a member of ERIE's  executive  management
team, serving as executive vice president of Insurance Operations.  He held this
position until his appointment at CEO.

"Erie Insurance is truly a special company, and it is the people - our employees
and agents - that make it so exceptional.  I treasure this  opportunity to serve
at its helm," says Ludrof.

Originally from Allentown,  Pa., Ludrof earned a Bachelor of Science in business
administration,  graduating magna cum laude from Bloomsburg University.  He is a
member of the Society of Chartered Property Casualty  Underwriters,  the Society
of Certified Insurance Counselors and the Leadership Erie Alumni Association. He
also serves on the board of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Erie  Indemnity  Company  is the  principal  management  company  for the member
companies  of the Erie  Insurance  Group,  which  includes  the  Erie  Insurance
Exchange,   Flagship  City  Insurance  Company,  Erie  Insurance  Company,  Erie
Insurance Property and Casualty Company,  Erie Insurance Company of New York and
Erie Family Life Insurance Company.

According  to  A.M.  Best  Company,   Erie  Insurance  Group,   based  in  Erie,
Pennsylvania,  is the 19th largest automobile insurer in the United States based
on direct premiums written and the 26th largest property/casualty insurer in the
United  States based on total lines net premium  written.  The Group,  rated A++
(superior) by A.M. Best Company, has more than 3.2 million policies in force and
operates  in 11 states and the  District of  Columbia.

News releases and more  information  about Erie Insurance Group are available at
http://www.erieinsurance.com

"Safe Harbor"  Statement Under the Private  Securities  Litigation Reform Act of
1995:  Certain  forward-looking  statements  contained  herein involve risks and
uncertainties. Many factors could cause future results to differ materially from
those  discussed.  Examples of such factors  include  variations in  catastrophe
losses due to changes in weather  patterns,  other  natural  causes or terrorist
actions;  changes in insurance  regulations or legislation that disadvantage the
members of the Group in the  marketplace and recession,  economic  conditions or
stock  market  changes  affecting  pricing or demand for  insurance  products or
ability to generate investment income and returns. Growth and profitability have
been and will be potentially materially affected by these and other factors.


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