MetLife Investment Management (MIM), the Whippany-based asset management arm of MetLife, Inc., has announced a major leadership appointment at its Morris County headquarters. Andrea Drasites will join the firm as Global Head of Real Estate and Agricultural Finance, effective October 1.
Reporting to MIM President Brian Funk, Drasites will oversee one of the most formidable investment portfolios in the industry. As of late 2025, MIM’s real estate and agricultural assets under management (AUM) totaled approximately $108.9 billion.
Drasites is tasked with scaling these global capabilities and integrating the specialized investment strengths of the newly expanded platform.
“Andrea is well positioned to lead our real estate team as we continue to accelerate growth and further scale our global capabilities,” Funk said. “We are excited to bring on board her significant expertise and extensive leadership experience.”
Drasites arrives at MetLife following a distinguished 13-year tenure at Blackstone, where she most recently served as Senior Managing Director in the Real Estate Group. Her career also includes senior roles at Equity One, Inc. and Woolbright Development.
In her new role, she will lead:
- Commercial Mortgage Portfolios: Driving lending strategies across global markets.
- Equity Real Estate: Managing direct investments in property assets.
- Agricultural Finance: Overseeing one of the nation’s largest private agricultural lending and investment platforms—a sector with deep historical roots in New Jersey’s corporate landscape.
“I’m thrilled to be joining MIM at such a pivotal moment,” Drasites said. “I look forward to… leveraging the firm’s scale to drive even more opportunities for clients worldwide.”
Drasites succeeds Robert Merck, a titan in the New Jersey real estate finance community who retired in 2025 after a storied 40-year career with MetLife.
An honors M.B.A. graduate from the University of Florida and a Rollins College alumna, Drasites’ move to Whippany signals MetLife’s intent to remain a top-tier, diversified global manager while maintaining its strong executive presence in the Garden State.
