Michel A. Khalaf is president and chief executive officer of MetLife, Inc. Khalaf joined MetLife in 2010 as chief executive officer of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region when the company acquired Alico from AIG. In 2011, he joined MetLife’s Executive Leadership Team when he was named president of the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region with responsibility for individual and group insurance businesses sold through agent, broker, bank and direct channels in more than 25 markets. In 2017, he added responsibility for the company’s U.S. businesses — Group Benefits, Retirement & Income Solutions and Property & Casualty — and for Global Employee Benefits, a horizontal business unit dedicated to growing employee benefits in approximately 40 markets.
In 2019, Khalaf launched MetLife’s Next Horizon strategy, which is grounded in the company’s purpose – “Always with you, building a more confident future.” MetLife delivers for its customers and communities and creates long-term value for its shareholders. Khalaf champions MetLife’s inclusive culture to bring together different perspectives for meeting rising stakeholder expectations and serving as a force for good in the world.
Khalaf is vocal about the importance of teamwork in workplace culture. When speaking about empathy and collaboration, Khalaf compares his work at MetLife to that of a team sport: “I consider myself a teammate, and I’m proud and fortunate to work with a great team at MetLife.” Khalaf’s commitment to amplifying diverse voices and collaboration drives a culture of belonging, engagement and high performance.
In Khalaf’s 21 years at Alico, he held a number of leadership roles in various markets around the world, including the Caribbean, France and Italy. In 1996, he was named the first general manager of Alico’s operation in Egypt. In 2001, he assumed the position of regional senior vice president in charge of Alico’s Life, Pension and Mutual Fund operations in Poland, Romania and the Baltics. Later, he served as deputy president and chief operating officer of Philamlife, AIG’s operating company in the Philippines. Khalaf began his career as an investment officer at Alico headquarters in Wilmington, Del.
Khalaf is a member of several boards, including the U.S.-China Business Council, the Geneva Association, and the Partnership for New York City.
Khalaf is a graduate of Syracuse University with a B.S. in engineering and an M.B.A. in finance.
FIRM PROFILE
With 153 years of experience, the MetLife companies are a leading innovator and a recognized leader in protection planning and retirement and savings solutions around the world. We have established a strong presence in more than 40 markets globally through organic growth, acquisitions, joint ventures and other partnerships. We are strengthening our global brand by extending core products and competencies to markets around the world – an important driver of growth for the enterprise.
Around the world, the MetLife companies offer life, accident and health insurance, retirement and savings products through agents, third-party distributors such as banks and brokers, and direct marketing channels. We work with families, corporations and governments to provide them with solutions that offer financial guarantees in their lives. Our name is recognized and trusted by tens of millions of customers worldwide, and do business with 96 of the top 100 FORTUNE 500® companies in the United States. We have the experience, global resources and vision to provide financial certainties for an uncertain world.
