1.

Effective on your first day, your salary will be payable in biweekly installments of approximately $20,769.23, which annualizes to $540,000. Our current performance management practices include annual performance reviews with performance measures which include predetermined goals. Salaries for senior officers are generally reviewed every 18-24 months.

2.

You will participate in the 2010 Annual Short-Term Incentive Compensation Program (IC) at a target of 90% of your 2010 year-end base salary; you will have the potential to earn up to 2x this target award. The target financial goals will be established by the Compensation Committee in February in accordance with The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. 2009 Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan. Any IC payment is contingent upon you being employed at The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. at the time the payment is made and is otherwise subject to the terms and conditions of the program.

3.

In conjunction with your commencement of employment with THG, you will be granted equity awards with an aggregate targeted value of approximately $1,000,000, as set forth below. The awards will be comprised of a combination of (1) stock options, (2) time-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and (3) performance-based restricted stock units (“PBRSUs”). The stock options and RSUs will be granted on your date of hire and will have a grant price based on the closing price of THG shares on such date. We will determine the number of PBRSUs to grant to you based on the closing price of THG shares on that date, but the actual grant of PBRSUs will not occur until such date as the Compensation Committee makes annual grants to other executive officers of THG, which date is expected to be during the week of February 22, 2010. The grant of all such equity based awards are subject to approval by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Such stock options, RSUs and PBRSUs shall be subject to the terms and conditions of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan, the terms established by the Compensation Committee and the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable grant agreements.

4.

You will receive a sign-on bonus of $200,000 (gross), payable as soon as practicable after your date of hire. In the event you voluntarily terminate your employment, or are terminated for cause, prior to the third anniversary of your date of hire, you hereby agree to return such amount in full. As used in this paragraph, the term “cause” is defined to include, but is not limited to, acts of insubordination, unlawful conduct, misconduct designed to harm the business or reputation of the Hanover, violation of company policy, including its code of conduct, or any conduct (including prior acts) that may be harmful to Hanover’s reputation or

5.

You will be eligible to participate in The Hanover Insurance Group’s benefit programs, including, but not limited to, Group Medical, Dental, Life, Short and Long Term Disability Insurance, and The Hanover Insurance Group Retirement Savings Plan. Eligibility for and entitlement to benefits are determined by the terms and conditions of the applicable benefit plans. A special attachment includes information on our Nonqualified Retirement Savings Plan, which is available to those employees who may have total compensation (annualized salary and bonuses) in excess of certain statutory limits (currently $245,000 or more).

6.

You will be eligible to receive relocation assistance under the current Hanover Insurance Group Relocation program. If your employment with the Hanover is terminated within two years of your hire date under any of the circumstances described in the Relocation Expense Agreement, then you agree to repay all or a portion of the amounts paid under this program pursuant to the terms and conditions of such agreement. A copy of the program is enclosed for your information. In order to receive this benefit, it is required that you sign and return the enclosed Relocation Expense Agreement.

7.

You will be eligible to participate in the financial planning program currently available to other senior executives. Additional information will be provided.

8.

You will be eligible to earn four (4) weeks vacation annually.

9.

Subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, you will also be eligible to participate in The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. Amended and Restated Employment Continuity Plan (the “Change-in-Control Plan”) as an “Executive Tier Participant” with a 3X “Multiplier”.

10.

As a condition of employment, all employees will be paid through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). You may have your pay deposited into as many as four accounts.

11.

Under the Federal immigration law, you will be required to complete an I-9 form verifying your employment eligibility in the United States. Refer to the enclosed materials for a list of acceptable forms of documentation. Be sure to bring the appropriate documents with you to New Employee Orientation on your first day of work.

12.

This offer letter briefly summarizes some of the terms and conditions of your employment. This letter is not and should not be construed as an employment contract. Employment at the Hanover Insurance Group is at-will. This means that you or the Company can terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason or no reason at all, with or without cause or notice.

/s/ Steven J. Bensinger

January 5, 2010

_________________________________

___________________

Mr. Steven J. Bensinger

Date

J. Kendall Huber

Deborah Mathews Finch