Robert R. Merck

Robert R. Merck

Global Head of Real Estate and Agricultural Finance

Robert R. Merck is global head of Real Estate and Agricultural Finance at MetLife Investment Management (MIM). In this role, Merck is responsible for managing the company's commercial mortgage and equity real estate portfolio, as well as its agricultural investments portfolio. In this capacity, Merck oversees a staff of over 200 investment professionals, both domestic and international.

Merck started his career with MetLife in 1982 and has served in various capacities in MetLife's real estate group. Since assuming overall responsibility for the real estate and agricultural portfolios, Merck has implemented strategic initiatives and a risk management focus that have strengthened the portfolios, raised the profile of the franchise and positively impacted the financial results of the business. Under Merck, the commercial and agricultural mortgage portfolios have more than doubled in size and the platforms have expanded internationally. Under his leadership, MetLife has diversified its real estate equity portfolio, in part through the $5.4 billion sale of Peter Cooper Village / Stuyvesant Town, one of the largest real estate transactions in history. In addition, Merck was responsible for launching the MetLife's investment management business in 2012.

Merck received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Emory University where he graduated with highest honors and an MBA from Georgia State University. He serves on the Boards of Directors of Metropolitan Realty Management, Inc. and the Metropolitan Tower Realty Company, Inc. Merck also serves on the Real Estate Advisory Board of the Emory Goizueta Business School, is a Trustee of the Urban Land Institute and serves on the Board of Directors of the Real Estate Roundtable. Merck also serves as the Executive Sponsor of MetLife’s Military Veterans Network (MVET).