MetLife Japan CEO Shah departure causes leadership reshuffle

Insurer MetLife has appointed new leaders for Japan and the EMEA region following the departure of Sachin Shah, chairman, president and CEO of MetLife Japan.

Shah has left MetLife to become the chief executive officer (CEO) of Asia Pacific region at AIG. He will be replaced by Eric Clurfain, who is currently the executive vice president and head of EMEA.

“Eric is a seasoned executive with a proven track record of building high-performing teams and businesses and a deep commitment to customer centricity,” said Steven Kandarian, chairman, president and CEO of MetLife. “He has extensive expertise across multiple markets and business lines and a strong understanding of how to operate successfully in highly regulated environments. His deep experience and expertise in all aspects of insurance will ensure that we continue to help our customers in Japan improve their health, build their savings, and retire with confidence. We are very excited to have a leader of Eric’s caliber and engagement taking the helm of our second largest market.”

Based in Tokyo, Clurfain will report to Kishore Ponnavolu, president of Asia. In his new role as the chairman, president and CEO of MetLife Japan, Clurfain will oversee all of MetLife’s businesses in Japan, the company’s second largest market globally and its largest retail life insurance business.

Clurfain joined MetLife in 2010 as general manager of MetLife in Turkey. He became head of Central and Eastern Europe in January 2012 and was appointed head of EMEA in July 2018.

Taking over Clurfain’s role as head of EMEA will be Dirk Ostijn, who is currently senior vice president, head of Europe and chief executive officer of MetLife Europe.

Ostijn will oversee all of MetLife’s businesses in the company’s 26 EMEA markets. He will report to Michel Khalaf, president, US business and EMEA, and continue to be based in Dublin.

“Dirk has been an exemplary leader for MetLife and is the right executive to assume responsibility for the EMEA region,” Kandarian added. “He brings a wealth of sector and regional experience to this important role and has a strong track record of contributions to our EMEA operations over many years.”

Ostijn joined MetLife in 2005 as CEO of MetLife Belgium and has held regional assignments as chief financial officer of Europe/India, head of M&A Western Europe, head of strategic initiatives Western Europe, and regional head of Western and Central Europe.

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