A Message from our President and CEO

We make and keep long-term promises that sustain individuals, families, and communities. We also make long-term investments that sustain economic prosperity. All of this reflects our purpose as a company: “Always with you, building a more confident future.” A more confident future is a more sustainable future.

We sustain confidence for tens of millions of people across the globe by protecting them against financial risks they cannot bear on their own.

We sustain job growth, wealth creation, and financial stability by providing hundreds of billions of dollars in patient capital for the economy. Last year, we had more than $58 billion of Responsible Investments¹ under management, including green energy, infrastructure, and affordable housing.

And we sustain and form a vital part of the social safety net, relieving pressure on government programs by providing supplemental sources of financial protection and income. Life insurance was the very model for social insurance, and we still protect people against the same risks — loss of income from death, disability, and retirement. Globally, we pay out roughly $30 billion a year to policyholders.

Our work takes on special importance during a global health crisis. When the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, we all faced an unprecedented challenge. It was a challenge that MetLife was built for.

We knew people were counting on us to be there for them. We knew they needed us more than ever. We knew swift action would make a difference.

In response, we announced sweeping financial assistance for our customers and crucial benefit enhancements for our employees. Hotel properties we own were made available as hospitals and housing for medical workers. Our own healthcare workers volunteered to join the front lines of the COVID-19 fight. And MetLife Foundation committed $25 million globally to pandemic relief.

As people dealt with the worst of the virus, they expected the best of us — and we delivered. Across the world, MetLife employees went above and beyond to support our customers, colleagues, and communities. We shared fresh ideas; we developed innovative tools; we found new ways to collaborate despite our distance.

In the process, we started to reimagine the future. Sustainability today does not guarantee sustainability tomorrow. The world is constantly changing. Living our purpose requires constant focus, continuous improvement, and consistent delivery for all of our stakeholders.

By energizing and enabling MetLife employees to make good on our promises, we help them forge deeper, more lasting relationships with our customers. By creating greater value for our customers, we create greater value for our shareholders. This helps us invest in our communities and our employees, which fuels the cycle. That is the essence of sustainability — and the essence of our business.

Crisis reveals character, and I am profoundly inspired by the way MetLife responded to COVID-19. Amid fear and uncertainty, we embraced our shared humanity. Amid struggle and hardship, we provided essential relief. Amid stress and anxiety, we delivered peace of mind.

We did these things before the pandemic struck, we did them in the darkest moments of the crisis, and we will continue to do them in the future. That is what being a sustainable company means, and this report shows how we bring our commitments to life.

Michel A. Khalaf
President and CEO
MetLife, Inc.