MassMutual Names Elizabeth Forget as Head of Product

Elizabeth Forget

Elizabeth Forget has joined MassMutual from J.P. Morgan Asset Management as the head of product to oversee insurance products and retirement offerings for the firm’s retail, worksite and institutional clients, according to an announcement on Thursday.

Forget reports to Paul LaPiana, head of brand, product and affiliated distribution for MassMutual, who held the role about a year ago before being promoted tohis current position.

“Liz is an industry veteran with deep knowledge of the broad spectrum of financial solutions MassMutual offers to our customers and financial professionals who choose to affiliate with us,” LaPiana said in a statement. “Her expertise and impressive track record will be invaluable as we work to build and deliver innovative and competitive protection and wealth products that help our policyowners and customers achieve their financial planning goals and objectives.”

Forget’s team includes heads from various sectors such as MassMutual investments, life insurance products, annuities, health and worksite products and product implementation, according to the firm. The group will also continue to develop new product portfolios.

Forget’s arrival at MassMutual follows a tenure of six years at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, where she served as a managing director and global head of client experience. Prior to this, she also held leadership positions at MetLife, Equitable and Banker’s Trust Company.

MassMutual also announced the promotion of Doug Steele to the position of head of MassMutual Investments, reporting to Forget. Steele formerly served as head of product management, a role he started in 2021.

Lincoln Taps Retail Life and Annuity Lead

Brian Kroll

In a separate announcement, Lincoln Financial Group appointed Brian Kroll as executive vice president, head of retail life and annuity solutions, effective May 16. He will also join the company’s senior management committee. Kroll reports to Ellen Cooper, chairman, president and CEO of the firm.

“Brian has a proven track record in our industry and here at Lincoln, and his deep expertise and collaborative leadership style will add tremendous value as we take our core competitive advantages in product manufacturing and our differentiated customer service to the next level,” Cooper said in a statement.

In his new role, Kroll will oversee the company’s life insurance and annuity operations, compassing product creation, underwriting, new business development, ongoing operations and strategic direction.

With over three decades of industry expertise, Kroll spent 18 of those years serving in various leadership positions at Lincoln. He oversaw the annuity sector until 2022, helping to create products with strong value propositions yielding favorable risk-adjusted returns across different market environments, according to the firm. Additionally, he led the introduction of Lincoln’s registered index-linked annuity product category and broadened its fixed indexed annuity portfolio.

Before joining Lincoln, Kroll served in senior positions in product management and actuarial departments within the life insurance and annuities sectors at firms such as MetLife, Manulife and Sun Life.

“I’m excited to return to this great organization to drive execution of the strategic realignment of Lincoln’s Life and Annuity businesses,” Kroll said in a statement.