MetLife in March 2019 announced changes to its Executive Group in connection with its CEO transition. As a reminder, Michel Khalaf, now president, U.S. Business and EMEA, will become MetLife president and CEO on May 1, 2019. U.S. Business, EMEA Ramy Tadros, currently executive vice president and Chief Risk Officer, will become president, U.S. Business, reporting to Khalaf. Tadros joined MetLife from Oliver Wyman, where he was a partner,

AXA Egypt in February 2019 joined pooling network MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN). AXA Egypt is the second MAXIS partner in the country, along MetLife Egypt, and joins the global network of over 140 local insurers. AXA Egypt was established as recently as 2015 and is a multi-line insurance carrier, offering general insurance, life and protection insurance, health insurance, and micro-insurance plans. The company is ranked fourth in

Andrew Stocker in December 2018 became Head of Employee Benefits Gulf at MetLife, based in Dubai. He has spent his entire career at MetLife, where he previously was Head of distribution, MetLife Global Employee Benefits and Maxis GBN; Vice President and head of distribution for MetLife Global Employee Benefits; head of Global Relationship Management; and Regional director of Employee Benefit sales, based in Dallas, Texas. He holds a Bachelor

New research published by MetLife UK in September 2018 shows nearly two out of three SME bosses worry their staff face a benefits protection gap in comparison with workers at larger firms. The nationwide survey of companies employing between 50 and 300 staff – equivalent to around 34,000 businesses with an annual turnover of £541 billion and employing 3.3 million people – found 63% of bosses worry about a

MAXIS GBN in May 2018 published research revealing that three quarters (75%) of employee benefits professionals believe the enhanced use of data and the application of innovative technologies to improve the employee experience are the primary growth opportunities for the employee benefits sector globally over the next two years. The findings, from the inaugural MAXIS Global Perspectives report, reveal the majority of sector professionals are bullish about the opportunities

James Reid in January 2018 was appointed Executive Vice President, Global Employee Benefits at MetLife, reporting to Michel Khalaf, president U.S. business and EMEA and a member of Met’s executive committee. In an exclusive interview, James discusses his plans with Global Benefits Vision. GBV: Should we start with the highlights of your career, focusing on employee benefits and international, that is global employee benefits including global mobility? James Reid:

James Reid in January 2018 was appointed Executive Vice President, Global Employee Benefits at MetLife, reporting to Michel Khalaf, president U.S. business and EMEA. MetLife Global E.B. includes MetLife Worldwide Benefits and MAXIS GBN, a joint-venture with AXA; it provides group life and health, pensions and credit products on a worldwide basis. Reid in 2012 joined MetLife U.S.’s group benefits organization, most recently in Regional and Small Business Solutions.

Swiss Re in December 2017 announced their intent to merge the Group Chief Financial Officer and Group Chief Strategy Officer roles, bringing the total number of Group Executive Committee members to 12. The world’s second-largest reinsurer will also propose adding three new members to its Board of Directors when they hold their annual general meeting on April 20. Karen Gavan, Eileen Rominger, and Larry Zimpleman are expected to replace

Employee benefit consultants (EBCs) are forecasting market growth for the United Kingdom, despite concerns about major challenges from newly-introduced data regulations and the impact of Brexit. New research* published in November 2017 by MetLife Employee Benefits shows that more than two out of five consultants (42%) expect their businesses to grow over the next year and another 41% believe they will, at the very least, stand still. Just 13%

Principal Financial in October 2017 bought MetLife’s pension fund management business in Mexico, MetLife Afore, adding a larger distribution network to Principal Afore’s current business in the country and the fifth largest player in the Mexican mandatory pension, voluntary long-term savings, and mutual funds competitive space. The transaction is expected to complete in early 2018.

New research in the UK from MetLife Employee Benefits shows the number of British workers who value their employee benefits has surged to 55% in the past two years, but employers need to work harder to increase trust among their employees. MetLife’s research shows that rising uncertainty in the job market and the wider economy is increasing employees’ interest in benefits: 55% of employees now say they value their

MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN), a global joint venture between MetLife and AXA, in April 2017 announced the launch of its new website, client portal, and member portal as part of the firm’s extensive investment in its digital infrastructure. The new site has revised content about MAXIS GBN’s network, solutions, and thought leadership. The latter includes the new, monthly, Viewpoint series, webinars, and health and wellness white-papers. The

The MAXIS GBN pooling network on February 7, 2017, officially opened its new headquarters in London, U.K., located at 11 Monument Street in the City. Since its launch in 1998, MAXIS, an AXA-MetLife partnership, had been managed from Paris and New York City. According to CEO Mauro Dugulin, in the present context of diminishing returns on multinational pooling; increasing interest in the use of captives; a greater thirst for

MetLife in August 2016 published its first global whitepaper, Employee Benefits Generating Business Impact, identifying key benefits trends and solutions from around the world. Based on data from 12 markets, the research found that total rewards packages are key to employee engagement, productivity and retention. In fact, nearly 100% of employers in Mexico, Brazil, Australia and the US said that benefits are important for attracting and retaining talent. Key

MAXIS Global Benefits Network will broadcast a webinar on February 24 and 25, 2016, titled “Enhancing the Employee Value Proposition in China and India,” and based on MetLife’s Employee Benefit Trends Study. As Asian economies and businesses mature, maintaining a highly productive workforce becomes more difficult in these markets. The webinar will help employers understand employee motivators in China and in India, including the role of a total rewards

Signaling an increased commitment to the global employee benefits industry, global insurance powerhouses MetLife and AXA in late October 2015 announced they will combine their existing MAXIS Global Benefits Network (MAXIS GBN) operations in a new co-owned joint venture company based in London. Mauro Dugulin, formerly CEO of Generali Employee Benefits Network (GEB), will serve as CEO. MAXIS has been headquartered in Paris and New York since its inception

Aon Benfield in September 2015 announced the appointment of Colin Dutkiewicz as Director of its Accident, Health and Life team, based in London and reporting to Roger Smith, Head of Aon Benfield’s Accident, Health and Life team. Colin joins Aon from Swiss Re, where he spent five years as head of pricing for Africa, client markets director for UK & Ireland, and most recently as global corporate actuary. Prior

Dr. Leena Johns leena.johns@maxis-gbn.com MAXIS GBN Head of Health & Wellness Leena’s particular area of interest is health data analytics; she works with Multinational clients, as well as local operations using claims data analytics to derive cost drivers, trends and areas of greatest financial change. She works with the various stakeholders to identify the areas to focus from a management perspective, recommending changes and modifications to policy terms and