EXHIBIT 99.1

Contact: Holly Sheffer
         212-578-4072
         hsheffer@metlife.com


           METLIFE APPOINTS CATHERINE KINNEY TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NEW YORK, December 18, 2001 - MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) today announced the
appointment of Catherine R. Kinney, group executive vice president of the New
York Stock Exchange, to its Board of Directors. Mrs. Kinney fills a vacancy
created when Ruth Simmons retired from the Board on August 1, 2001, to begin her
new role as president of Brown University.

"We are pleased to welcome Cathy to our Board of Directors," said Robert H.
Benmosche, MetLife chairman and chief executive officer. "She has a great depth
of knowledge as a result of her experience at the New York Stock Exchange,
particularly her understanding of the financial markets, and the challenges that
public companies face. Her experience will benefit our company, customers and
shareholders."

On January 2, 2002, Mrs. Kinney will take on additional responsibilities at the
NYSE when she becomes its co-chief operating officer, president and executive
vice chairman. Since joining the NYSE in 1974, Mrs. Kinney has held senior
positions in a number of areas, including regulation, sales and marketing and
technology planning.

Mrs. Kinney is currently group executive vice president in charge of overseeing
the NYSE's competitive position and relationships with its listed companies,
member firms and institutions, including new listings and client service, equity
marketing and sales, exchange-traded funds and fixed income. She has held this
position and has also been a member of the Office of the Chairman since 1995.
Prior to that, she was responsible for managing trading-floor operations and
technology.

Mrs. Kinney earned a Bachelor of Arts from Iona College and completed the
Advanced Management Program at Harvard Graduate School of Business. She is a
member of the board of the New York University Downtown Hospital, the Board of
Regents at Georgetown University and is a trustee of Iona College.

MetLife, Inc., through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading provider of
insurance and other financial services to individual and group customers. The
MetLife companies serve approximately nine million individual households in the
U.S. and companies and institutions with 33 million employees and members. It
also has international insurance operations in 14 countries.

                                      # # #