Michel Khalaf

Michel Abbas Khalaf (born 1964)[1] is a Lebanese-American business executive. He has been the president and CEO of MetLife since May 2019. Prior to becoming CEO, he held senior executive positions at MetLife since 2011, and before that spent 21 years in increasingly senior positions at Alico, which MetLife acquired in 2010.

Early life and education

Khalaf was born and raised in Lebanon.[2] He is the son of Abbas Khalaf, who was Lebanon's Minister of Economy and Trade[3] from 1974-1975.[4] His sister is Roula Khalaf, who has been editor-in-chief of the Financial Times[3] since 2020.[5]

Khalaf was educated at the International College, Beirut.[6] He moved to the United States for university, and at Syracuse University obtained[3] a BS in engineering[7] in 1985[8] and an MBA in finance[3] in 1989.[8]

Career

Alico

Khalaf began his career in 1989 as an investment officer at American Life Insurance Company (Alico),[9] AIG's overseas unit which sold life, accident, and health insurance, plus retirement and wealth management products.[10] He initially spent 21 years at Alico, eventually holding a number of leadership roles in various markets including the Caribbean, France, Italy, Egypt, Poland, Romania, and the Philippines.[11]

In 1996, he became the first general manager of Alico’s operation in Egypt. In 2001, he was appointed as regional senior vice president in charge of Alico's life insurance, pension, and mutual fund operations in Poland, Romania, and the Baltics, and was also named president and CEO of Alico's life insurance subsidiary in Poland, Amplico Life.[7]

In 2006,[9] he was made deputy president and COO of Philamlife, AIG's operating company in the Philippines.[7] He became regional president of Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) at the company in 2008.[9]

MetLife

Upon MetLife's acquisition of Alico in 2010,[12] Khalaf became executive vice president and CEO of MetLife’s Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region. In 2011, he became part of MetLife's executive group, and president of the company's Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) division.[13] In 2017, his position was expanded to president of U.S. Business and EMEA.[1][14] In this role, he oversaw the group benefits, retirement[12] and income services, and property and casualty insurance businesses in the United States; global employee benefits providing employee benefits services to employers; and individual and group insurance businesses sold in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.[15]

On May 1, 2019, Khalaf succeeded Steven Kandarian as MetLife's CEO[12] and president.[11] As CEO, he introduced a five-year plan that year called Next Horizon,[16] with the stated goal of focusing, simplifying, and differentiating the company.[17] In 2024 he introduced a new five-year business plan called New Frontier, to boost long-term growth via profit growth, expense reductions, and increased free cash flow.[18]

Board memberships

In addition to being the firm's president and CEO, Khalaf is on the board of directors of MetLife.[9] He serves on the board of the Geneva Association.[19] He is a member of the Business Roundtable[20] and The Business Council.[21]

Personal life

Khalaf is married to Andrea Khalaf, and they are based in New York City.[22]

References

  1. 1 2 https://www.wsj.com/articles/metlife-promotes-two-senior-execs-as-future-ceo-succession-race-takes-shape-1497528580
  2. ↑ Beaux, Fabrice (April 30, 2026), Michel Khalaf: Lebanese-American Engineer, Alico Globe-Trotter, and President and CEO of MetLife, BBN Times, retrieved August 23, 2026{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Successes, rewards, good causes and innovations". L'Orient–Le Jour. 2 December 2019.
  4. ↑ The Ministry and Minister, Lebanon: Republic of Lebanon: Ministry of Economy & Trade, retrieved August 23, 2026
  5. ↑ Roula Khalaf to succeed Lionel Barber as Financial Times editor, Financial Times, November 12, 2019, retrieved August 23, 2026{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  6. ↑ "Michel Khalaf at the head of MetLife". Le Commerce du Levant. 15 January 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 Khalaf succeeds Kandarian as MetLife CEO, Retirement Income Journal, January 10, 2019, retrieved August 23, 2026{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  8. 1 2 Notable Alumni, Syracuse University, retrieved August 23, 2026
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Board". metlife.com. 2026.
  10. ↑ Bansal, Paritosh (March 8, 2010), AIG Sells Alico Unit to MetLife for $15.5 Billion, Insurance Journal, retrieved August 24, 2026{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  11. 1 2 https://www.wsj.com/articles/metlife-ceo-steven-kandarian-to-retire-in-april-11546953417
  12. 1 2 3 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-08/metlife-names-khalaf-ceo-replacing-kandarian-after-stock-slump
  13. ↑ MetLife reorganizes in wake of Alico acquisition, Retirement Income Journal, November 21, 2011, retrieved August 23, 2026{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  14. ↑ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-06-15/metlife-names-khalaf-president-of-u-s-business-as-morris-exits
  15. ↑ MetLife Names Michel Khalaf As President And CEO, Succeeding Steven Kandarian, RTT News, August 1, 2019, retrieved August 24, 2026{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  16. ↑ "MetLife's CEO Explains How AI Has Helped the Insurance Company". Barron's. 2016.
  17. ↑ "MetLife Unveils New Frontier Growth Strategy & Long-Term Financial Commitments At 2024 Investor Day" (Press release). MetLife. Advisor Magazine. December 14, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  18. ↑ https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/metlife-targets-double-digit-earnings-per-share-gains-new-growth-plan-2024-12-12/
  19. ↑ https://www.genevaassociation.org/about-us/board
  20. ↑ "Members". businessroundtable.org. 2026.
  21. ↑ "Active Members". businesscouncil.com. 2026.
  22. ↑ https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2019/06/10/these-are-some-of-the-most-notable-resi-sales-in-nyc-this-week/
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