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MetLife announces global 2030 DEI commitments

Sydney March 28, 2022

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) announced a broad set of 2030 diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) commitments designed to address the needs of the underserved and underrepresented through a mix of investments, products and services, supply chain, volunteering, and community efforts.  

The extensive package of DEI commitments augments the global insurer’s robust sustainability efforts, which are anchored to its business strategy and informed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

“MetLife’s purpose calls on us to build a more inclusive and equitable world for all our stakeholders,” said MetLife President and CEO Michel Khalaf. “The breadth of these commitments demonstrates that we are significantly advancing our DEI efforts on every front. Setting clear expectations for our progress will hold us accountable and sustain our momentum.”

Echoing Mr Khalaf’s comments, MetLife Australia CEO Richard Nunn said, “MetLife’s strong and ongoing commitment to DEI is reflected in these 2030 commitments. In Australia we have been leveraging our global network to make progress in our workplace, leading to us being the only life insurer in Australia to be identified as an inclusive workplace by Diversity Council Australia. This is only the beginning – we will continue to contribute to MetLife’s global DEI efforts, as we aim to have a positive impact on our customers, our people and community.”

MetLife has pledged to deliver on the following commitments by 2030:

1. Originate $1 billion in investments that advance firms owned by women, minorities, and disabled persons. MetLife made a down payment on this commitment with nearly $100 million deployed in 2021.
2. Reach $5 billion in spend with diverse suppliers – an increase of $1.6 billion from the amount MetLife’s Supplier Inclusion and Development Program has committed to date. MetLife will also annually report the economic impact of this spend.
3. MetLife Foundation has committed $150 million in funding to support underserved and underrepresented communities.
4. Commit 800,000 employee volunteer hours with a focus on DEI/underserved communities.
5. Provide solutions and insights to address the needs of the underserved. For example, MetLife will build partnerships with experts to provide educational content in Upwise™ – the company’s new digital financial wellness app – to tackle the financial challenges disproportionately impacting diverse communities.
6. Support research that advances understanding of DEI issues. For example, MetLife will share insights from the company’s annual Employee Benefit Trends Study and other research initiatives to help employers as they support their increasingly diverse workforces.
7. Continue to advance workforce diversity by consistently achieving top quartile positioning across each ethnically and racially diverse category in the U.S. and of female officers globally. Enhance transparency of the link between top quartile positioning and executive leadership performance.

The financial components of these commitments total more than $2.5 billion by 2030.

“Every MetLife employee plays an important role in achieving our DEI objectives,” said MetLife Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Cindy Pace. “By embedding these commitments directly into the work our teams do each day, we’re able to tap into fresh ideas and expertise that will have a meaningful impact on the diverse customers and communities we serve.”

Regular progress updates on the 2030 commitments will be provided through the company’s annual sustainability report. To learn more, visit Sustainability at MetLife.

Media Contact

For more information please contact the Corporate Affairs team: media@metlife.com or +61 (0)411 893 890.