MetLife CEO Steven Kandarian Keeps His Obscurity

Steven Kandarian seems content with remaining relatively obscure after leaving his role as MetLife chairman, president, and CEO – it likely suits him just fine.

Kandarian is the founder and managing partner of Orion Partners LP, as well as an executive director at Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Early Life and Education

Steven Kandarian was born into a middle class family but didn’t have much when he was growing up, yet began planning for his financial future at an early age – even by age 12, he had made stock investments.

MetLife appointed him president and CEO in May 2011 after Robert Henrikson left. Chairmanship came shortly thereafter in January 2012. Prior to this appointment, he served as executive director for Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation as well as founder/managing partner of Orion Partners LP, a private equity firm.

He currently sits on the board of Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation and is an active member of Economic Club of New York. Additionally, he holds degrees from Clark University, Georgetown University Law Center, and Harvard Business School – his Bachelors’, Laws Degree, and an MBA respectively.

Professional Career

Steve Kandarian hails from a middle class family in Connecticut and began investing at an early age, purchasing shares in companies his parents worked for and moving onto smart business decisions.

Kandarian was also the founder and managing partner of Orion Partners, LP, a private equity firm based out of Boston. Additionally, from 2001-2004 he served as executive director of Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation where he advocated strongly for reforms that would place defined benefit pension funds on sound financial footing.

Kandarian has implemented numerous initiatives at MetLife during his time as CEO that have strengthened their investment portfolio and fostered better risk management practices. He is widely acclaimed for helping prepare their assets for the housing bubble by selling off Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village in 2006. Furthermore, Kandarian is also an active member of various professional organizations, such as Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, Institute of International Finance, and Economic Club of New York.

Achievement and Honors

Kandarian has already accomplished much during his first three months as CEO, including expanding MetLife’s senior leadership team and acquiring the naming rights to MetLife Stadium – home of both New York Giants and Jets now known as MetLife Stadium – for 25 years. Additionally, he spearheaded the development of and implementation of a global brand strategy which has contributed to significant revenue growth and expense savings.

As Kandarian led Orion Partners LP under his direction, it quickly identified and responded to the housing bubble by decreasing exposure to subprime mortgage-backed securities, shifting towards lower loan-to-value commercial and agricultural real estate, and prioritizing residential mortgages with low loan-to-value ratios. He is an Economic Club of New York member as well as trustee for Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation trustee; in addition, Orion Partners, LP was created with his help.

Personal Life

Steven Kandarian is more than just the CEO of MetLife; he’s an honest individual who speaks his mind. Raised in a middle class family in West Hartford, Steven Kandarian began making investments as soon as he could – spending weekends poring over company financial statements and planning his investments with Lilian, his mother.

At present, he serves as president and chief executive officer of MetLife as well as chairman of its board. His leadership during the global financial crisis earned him much praise as did putting MetLife’s investment portfolio on a solid footing. In addition, he held executive director status of Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation while being founder and managing partner at Orion Partners LP (a private equity firm).

Net Worth

Steven Kandarian has been making wise investments since he was young. While not from an elite background, his parents took great care in providing for him so he could maximize the opportunities presented him as a teenager.

MetLife CEO Ed Kandarian has been widely recognized for strengthening MetLife’s investment portfolio and helping prepare them for the financial crisis. Additionally, his key role in selling Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village properties helped increase MetLife’s bottom line and add strength to their bottom line.

MetLife appointed him president and CEO from May 1, 2011 until April 30, 2019, when Michel Khalaf took his place. Other career highlights for Mr. Keating included serving as executive director for the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation – an agency funded by government – from 2008 – 2017.