LV= Chief Commercial Officer Katherine Carnegie
Katherine Carnegie, Chief Commercial Officer, shares her perspective on building a workplace, and product proposition, for everyone.
Investment, protection and retirement specialist, LV= has been helping people to live financially confident lives since 1843.
As headline sponsor of this year's Women in Financial Advice Awards, hosted by Professional Adviser, LV= is proud to champion the advancement of women in financial services.
For financial advisers, this means working with a provider that not only understands these challenges but is actively addressing them through inclusive product design and changes to regulation.
LV= is committed to driving change: by amplifying awareness, encouraging cross-sector talent and fostering a culture where everyone feels empowered to thrive.
The organisation's commitment to inclusion goes beyond the awards sponsorship and product offering. Equality of opportunity and inclusion are cherished heritage values that have guided LV= since the beginning. These core principles continue to shape LV=, both in its external offerings and internal culture, ensuring that advisers and their clients benefit from a business that reflects the diverse world we live in.
Under the leadership of Chief Executive, David Hynam, inclusion has been embedded into company strategy. Diversity metrics have significantly improved, and policies have been updated to reflect inclusive principles, such as fertility treatment, menopause and carers policies. Recruitment processes have also evolved to address unconscious bias.
Flexible and hybrid working remains a core part of LV's approach to work, enabling colleagues to balance professional and personal commitments. To further support career growth, LV= also offers structured mentorship programmes that provide guidance and development opportunities for colleagues.
Additionally, LV= takes pride in the fact that nearly half of its leadership positions are held by women. Among these accomplished individuals is Katherine Carnegie, Chief Commercial Offer (CCO). She has held multiple roles across the business over almost 13 years, culminating in her appointment as CCO in 2024.
Katherine said: "Inclusivity is incredibly important. It can't be a tick box exercise, inclusive leadership is about living and breathing what you truly believe.
"I'm proud of the culture we've built at LV=. In 2016, we signed up to the Women in Finance Charter, committing to remove barriers and address workplace challenges. A majority of our senior roles are now held by women."
The financial services industry has long faced perceptions of exclusivity, an image LV= is actively working to reshape. In collaboration with the Social Mobility Foundation, LV= recently commissioned the Unheard Voices research to examine the persistent barriers faced by young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds in accessing and progressing within the sector.
This initiative forms part of LV's broader commitment to raising awareness around social mobility and the structural challenges that continue to hinder equitable access to opportunity. Most recently, LV= sponsored a comprehensive piece of research undertaken by the Women's Wealth Alliance about women in the personal finance sector, including any barriers or challenges to women's progression. This reinforces LV's broader commitment to raising awareness about female representation in the advice industry.
Katherine added: "We must challenge the notion that the financial industry is only for a certain type of person. It's about people, not just numbers, and that message needs to reach schools and universities.
"Representation plays a key role in attracting women into the sector, and visibility of successful role models is key. I had people who believed in me, challenged me and gave me space to grow. We must formalise that support for future generations."
