It's Good to Hear From Mark LaNeve, For More Than One Reason

Imus met Mark LaNeve, now the chief marketing officer for Allstate Insurance Company, when he was an executive at General Motors, where he had arranged for the donation of four black Chevy Suburbans to the Imus Ranch. The I-Man has never forgotten this charitable gesture, even though LaNeve’s departure from GM was difficult because it left Imus high and dry in the SUV department.

Having reinforced the “what have you done for me lately” nature of their relationship, Imus complimented Allstate’s television commercials that star actor Dennis Haysbert. LaNeve then described to Imus a new Allstate campaign where a character called “Mr. Mayhem” wreaks havoc on people’s lives, making Allstate the obvious solution.

“I said to the casting director, ‘Try to find like a young Don Imus,’” said LaNeve. “Somebody who causes a lot of problems, and then restores it.”

Though Imus and LaNeve could go at each other for hours, the nature of LaNeve’s appearance today was far more serious. Allstate has instituted the “Save 11” campaign, which they hope will promote to Congress the importance of passing the STANDUP Act.

“On average, 11 teenagers die every single day of car accidents,” LaNeve said. “And most of the time it could be preventable, because it’s because of distractions of other kids in the car, partying in the car, texting in the car, cell phones in the car.”

The STANDUP Act promotes safe teen and novice driving through a graduated drivers licensing program similar to what many states already require. “It puts restrictions on communications devices, restrictions on other kids in the car or number of people in the car, some restrictions on nighttime driving,” LaNeve explained.

Presently, different states require different levels of the graduated program, but LaNeve and Allstate want to see a national standard put into effect. “We really believe that the potential outcome is that 11 less kids die every single day,” he said.

The dangers of texting while driving have been ubiquitous lately, and LaNeve called it “a monster issue” because texting behind the wheel makes an accident 20 times more likely.

He is confident the STANDUP Act will pass, but he’s nervous it will be bogged down in election year politics and a packed agenda. “There’s certainly no opposition to it in Congress because it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

Though Imus blamed GM’s descent into bankruptcy last year entirely on LaNeve, the truth is that he was very involved in the restructuring process and believes the company has a great chance now to take advantage of the automobile market when it snaps back.

It was a good point, but one that was totally lost on Imus, who finally found a way to put LaNeve’s new position at Allstate to good use. Following vicious rainstorms at the Imus Ranch a few weeks ago, the current insurance carrier had refused to cover the nearly $250,000 in damages to the roads and fences. Enter Allstate.

“I knew something would come of this!” Imus said of LaNeve’s appearance, his grin as wide as a Chevy Suburban.

-Julie Kanfer