Financial mutual LV= has recruited Mark Hartigan from Zurich to be its interim chief executive with effect from 1 January on an initial 12 month contract, subject to regulatory approval.

The company announced earlier this month that previous chief executive Richard Rowney would step down after 13 years at the savings, investment and protection company.

A spokesman for LV= told Financial Planning Today: "It’s an interim appointment, LV= will be going through a lot of change in the new year as we transform into a standalone life and pensions business following the completion of the sale of our general insurance business to Allianz and we convert from a friendly society to a company limited by guarantee so an initial 12 month contract was the appropriate way to start."

Mr Hartigan was a member of the senior leadership team at Zurich Insurance Group between 2009 and 2019.

He held a variety of roles and was most recently head of operations for Zurich EMEA.  Prior to this he was chief administrative officer in Zurich’s General Insurance Business and chief executive officer of both EMEA and Asia Pacific for Zurich Global Life. 

He has been chair of a number of life company boards in the UK and overseas.

Before joining Zurich, he was deputy chief executive officer of Nexus Group, an insurance broker in the Middle East.  He started his career in the British Army and holds a master’s degree from King's University College of London.

Alan Cook, chairman, LV= said: “Mark Hartigan is the ideal candidate to lead LV= as we begin life as a standalone life and pensions business.  He brings a wealth of knowledge of the life insurance market and has a strong track record of delivering financial success and business transformation in challenging and fast changing market conditions.

“We are pleased that we have been able to act swiftly in making this appointment and I look forward to working together with Mark to build on the strong platform that LV= has in the savings, retirement and protection market.”

Mark Hartigan said: “LV= is a business I have long admired.  As the company completes the sale of its general insurance business and starts 2020 as a focused life and pensions business it’s an exciting time to join.  I look forward to working with all my new colleagues to build on LV=’s heritage and to serve our members, customers and partners.”

LV= has 5.8m customers and was founded in 1843. It deals direct with consumers and through IFAs and brokers.

LV= has been asked for comment on whether Mr Hartigan’s appointment is temporary.