Bolton will replace John Perks who is leaving to join the Police Mutual Group as chief executive in April.
He joins from Aviva Life, where has has worked for the past 11 years, most recently as managing director of retirement solutions.
Bolton is also currently a consultant with the International Longevity Centre, and is a non-executive member of the Civil Service Pension Scheme Advisory Board.
The appointment will be with immediate effect, subject to regulatory approval.
LV= says that under Perks’ leadership the life business has grown from sales of £500 million a year to over £2 billion.
LV= chief executive Richard Rowney says : “Clive Bolton is a hugely impressive business leader with a proven track record of growing and developing life businesses based around the needs of customers and advisers. I’m confident that he’ll contribute significantly to LV=’s future success.”