Allianz announces new LV=Broker MD as Crane departs ahead of rebrand

Allianz has appointed a new managing director for LV=Broker as it confirmed that Mike Crane will be leaving the role.

LV=Broker, which Crane has run since 2016, is Allianz’s personal broking business lines in the UK and is set to rebrand to Allianz next week.

With Crane leaving his position, the insurer has appointed Nicola George as his successor.

She joined LV= Broker in 2022 as portfolio pricing director and will lead the strategic growth of the business in her new role.

Before joining the insurer, she worked at Aviva general insurance for 11 years, holding several roles such as head of intermediated pricing and underwriting.

“Nicola is an established leader who brings invaluable experience and insights into this key role,” Serge Raffard, managing director of Allianz Personal, said.

“She understands the dynamics of the personal lines broker market thoroughly and we’re excited to see how she will grow and develop our presence.”

Crane

Raffard also paid tribute to Crane for his “fantastic leadership” over the last few years.

Allianz acquired 49% of LV=’s general insurance business in 2017 before snapping up the remaining 51% in 2020.

Crane led the transfer of LV=’s commercial business to Allianz and the Allianz personal business into LV=.

In addition to his broker role, he led the integration of the L&G GI business into LV= as chief executive of L&G GI, as well as caretaking the pricing director role for Allianz Personal in the second half of 2023.

“I want to personally thank Mike for his fantastic leadership, along with all the support and guidance he has given me since I started in this role,” Raffard said.

“The broker business is an important part of personal lines, with 1,200 brokers servicing 1.4m policyholders, with around 750K of these with an LV= Broker brand branded policy.

“We are rebranding the LV= Broker business to Allianz in May and so with this exciting new chapter ahead, now feels a natural point for Mike to hand over the reins. We wish him all the best.”