METLIFE BOARD ELECTS CHERYL W. GRISÉ AS LEAD DIRECTOR
NEW YORK, January 27, 2010
MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) announced today the election of Cheryl W. Grisé, 57, as lead director of the company's board of directors, effective February 1, 2010. Grisé succeeds William C. Steere, Jr., 73, who will be retiring from the board effective as of the commencement of the company's 2010 annual shareholders meeting.
Grisé joined MetLife's board in 2004. From December 2005 until her retirement in June 2007, Grisé was executive vice president of Northeast Utilities, New England's largest utility system. She had also previously served as chief executive officer of Northeast Utilities' principal operating subsidiaries; president of the Utility Group of Northeast Utilities Service Company; and president of the Utility Group of Northeast Utilities. From 1998 to 2001, Grisé served as Northeast Utilities' senior vice president, secretary and general counsel after holding the position of senior vice president and chief administrative officer from 1995 to 1998. She began her career at Northeast Utilities in the legal department in 1980.
"During the course of her 27-year career with Northeast Utilities, Cheryl held a number of senior leadership roles, which have given her a tremendous breadth of experience," said C. Robert Henrikson, chairman, president & chief executive officer of MetLife, Inc. "Her strong leadership and governance background, combined with her five year tenure as a member of the MetLife board, makes her an outstanding choice as MetLife's new lead director and I look forward to continuing to work closely with her as she takes on this new role."
An independent member of the board, Grisé, who currently serves on the board's audit, compensation and governance committees, will also join the executive, finance & risk policy, and corporate responsibility & compliance committees. She also serves on the boards of Pall Corporation; Pulte Homes, Inc.; the University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc.; the Kingswood-Oxford School; and is a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum.
Grisé received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law and has completed the Yale Executive Management Program.
"I also want to extend my gratitude and appreciation for Bill's guidance and many contributions to the board," added Henrikson. "His tremendous experience and knowledge have made him a great asset to the board and MetLife's shareholders."
Steere, retired chairman of the board and CEO of Pfizer Inc., has served as a member of MetLife's board since 1999 as well as a member of the board of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company since 1997. He became lead director upon creation of the role on January 18, 2006.
MetLife, Inc. is a leading provider of insurance, employee benefits and financial services with operations throughout the United States and the Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. reaches more than 70 million customers around the world and MetLife is the largest life insurer in the United States (based on life insurance in-force). The MetLife companies offer life insurance, annuities, auto and home insurance, retail banking and other financial services to individuals, as well as group insurance and retirement & savings products and services to corporations and other institutions. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.