Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co. has announced that its deputy general counsel will be the company's next legal leader.

Nancy Crawford will be the next general counsel of the Omaha, Nebraska-based company and will replace Richard Anderl beginning Jan. 1, 2019. Anderl will remain with the company to help with the transition until the end of the first quarter in 2019, when he plans on retiring, according to a spokesperson for the company. Crawford will oversee the company's legal team, which includes its attorneys, paralegals and other personnel.

Crawford was not available for comment Monday. The company's chairman, president and CEO, James Blackledge, also was not available Monday for comment on the promotion, the spokesperson said.

Crawford joined Mutual of Omaha in 1999 as first vice president and counsel, according to a news release dated Dec. 12. In 2006, she was promoted to vice president and counsel. In January 2018 she was named deputy general counsel and assistant corporate secretary. She was previously was an associate at McGill Gotsdiner Workman & Lepp in Omaha, according to the release. Crawford graduated from the Creighton University School of Law.

Mutual of Omaha is a privately held mutual insurance and financial services company.