St. Paul, Minnesota-based Securian Financial has hired veteran lawyer Renee Montz as general counsel, succeeding Gary Christensen, who is retiring at the end of the year after 37 years with the company.

Montz—who has 25 years of legal experience in insurance, securities, sales distribution, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues and board governance—joins Securian from Iowa-based American Equity Investment Life Holding Co., where she served as executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for five of her seven-year tenure.