8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 27, 2012

AMERICAN EQUITY

INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Iowa	001-31911	42-1447959
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Indentification No.)

6000 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa	50266
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

(515) 221-0002

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On June 27, 2012, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (the “Company”) appointed John M. Matovina as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, Ted M. Johnson as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company and Scott A. Samuelson as Vice President - Controller of the Company. In addition, the Board designated Mr. Matovina as the “principal executive officer”, Mr. Johnson as “principal financial officer” and Mr. Samuelson as “principal accounting officer” of the Company for purposes of all filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Mr. Matovina, age 58, was previously the Company's Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and was serving as the Company's interim Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Johnson, age 42, was previously Vice President - Controller of the Company. In satisfaction of the disclosure required pursuant to Items 401(b) and 401(e) of Regulation S-K for these individuals, the section of the Company's 2012 Proxy Statement, filed with the SEC on April 23, 2012, entitled “Executive Officers” is incorporated herein by reference.

Mr. Samuelson, age 39, joined the Company in October 2010 as Assistant Vice President and Assistant Controller. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Samuelson was a senior manager with Ernst & Young LLP where he was employed from 1995 to October 2010 working primarily on audit clients in the insurance and financial services industries. Mr. Samuelson is a certified public accountant and has over 16 years of experience in the life insurance industry.

A copy of the Company's press release announcing the appointment of Mr. Matovina and Mr. Johnson is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)    Exhibits

The following exhibits are being furnished with this Form 8-K.

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press release dated June 27, 2012.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: June 27, 2012

AMERICAN EQUITY
INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY
By:	/s/ John M. Matovina
Name:	John M. Matovina
Title:	Chief Executive Officer and President

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press release dated June 27, 2012.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

	For more information, contact:
	John M. Matovina, Chief Executive Officer
	(515) 457-1813, jmatovina@american-equity.com
	Julie L. LaFollette, Director of Investor Relations
	(515) 273-3602, jlafollette@american-equity.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Debra J. Richardson, Chief Administrative Officer
June 27, 2012	(515) 273-3551, drichardson@american-equity.com

AMERICAN EQUITY NAMES EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (June 27, 2012) - American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (NYSE: AEL), a leading underwriter of index and fixed rate annuities, announced today the following changes to its executive officers:

• John M. Matovina was named Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Matovina, age 58, was previously Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and was serving as interim Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Matovina has served on American Equity's Board of Directors since 2000 and has also served as Vice Chairman since 2003.

• Ted M. Johnson was named Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Johnson, age 42, was previously Vice President - Controller. Prior to joining American Equity in August 2000, Mr. Johnson was a senior manager with Ernst & Young LLP working primarily on audit clients in the insurance industry. Mr. Johnson is a certified public accountant and has over 19 years of experience in the life insurance industry.

David J. Noble, Executive Chairman and Robert L. Howe, American Equity's lead independent director, said “The Board has a great deal of confidence in Mr. Matovina, Mr. Johnson, and the entire management team of American Equity. These individuals, together with Debra J. Richardson, Executive Vice President and Secretary, Ron Grensteiner, President of American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, Terry Reimer, Executive Vice President and Jeff Lorenzen, Sr. Vice President of Investments provide us with an experienced group of executives that have worked together as a team for many years. We fully expect that the success and stability of American Equity will continue under their leadership.

ABOUT AMERICAN EQUITY

American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, through its wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, is a full service underwriter of a broad line of fixed annuity and life insurance products, with a primary emphasis on the sale of index and fixed rate annuities. American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, a New York Stock Exchange Listed company (NYSE: AEL), is headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa. For more information, please visit www.american-equity.com.