MetLife Reorganizes Business Into Three Regions

MetLife Inc. is reorganizing its business from a U.S./international business structure into three broad geographic regions to better reflect the company’s global reach. MetLife says it significantly grew its global footprint in 2010 through the $16.4 billion acquisition of Alico. The three new business regions, each of which will have its own president, are the Americas, EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) and Asia.

William J. Wheeler has been appointed president of the Americas division and remains a member of the executive group. Michel Khalaf has been appointed president of the EMEA division and becomes a new member of the executive group.

MetLife is conducting a search for a president of the Asia division.

With the integration of Alico close to completion and, due to the reconfiguration of the company’s structure, William J. Toppeta, who served as president of the company’s international business, plans to retire. Toppeta will remain with MetLife as vice chair, EMEA/Asia, through May 31, 2012.

MetLife is also creating a global employee benefits business unit, headed by executive VP Maria R. Morris, who will continue as a member of the company’s executive group. Morris will oversee the integration of Alico until mid-2012. Executive VP Marty Lippert becomes head of global technology and operations.

MetLife currently is conducting a search for a CFO. The interim CFO is executive VP Eric Steigerwalt. MetLife will no longer have a president of the U.S. business, and William J. Mullaney has decided to pursue other opportunities.