MetLife Investment Management (MIM), the institutional asset management arm of MetLife, Inc., announced the appointment of Chris Aiken as the new head of Real Estate Equity Strategies. The appointment is effective immediately, with Aiken reporting to Andrea Drasites, the firm’s global head of Real Estate and Agricultural Finance.
In his new capacity, Aiken will lead MIM’s direct property investment platform. He is tasked with overseeing investment activities for both MetLife’s general account and third-party institutional investors, covering a broad spectrum of strategies including core, core-plus, build-to-core, value-add, and opportunistic investments.
“Chris is an integral part of our real estate platform and has consistently demonstrated strong leadership skills, deep market expertise and a commitment to delivering value for our clients,” Brian Funk, president of MIM said. “His experience across acquisitions, development and portfolio strategy, combined with his collaborative style, positions him well to lead our Real Estate Equity Strategies business as we continue to advance the platform.”
The move comes at a time of continued growth for the firm, which reported $106.2 billion in assets under management within its real estate portfolio as of March 31. This leadership update follows the recent appointment of Andrea Drasites as global head of Real Estate and Agricultural Finance, signaling MetLife’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its global real estate capabilities.
Aiken, who previously served as the head of Acquisitions for MIM’s Real Estate Equity Strategies Group, brings decades of experience to his new role. Prior to joining MetLife, he was a Managing Director at Safanad, where he directed the investment lifecycle across various real estate strategies. His background also includes significant roles at BlackRock and Salomon Smith Barney.
Aiken holds a Master of Science in Real Estate Finance from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Morehouse College. He is an active contributor to the industry, serving as a member and co-chair of the Membership Committee for the Real Estate Executive Council and as a member of the Urban Land Institute’s Urban Development Mixed-Use Council.
