MetLife Investment Management announced Wednesday the promotion of Chris Aiken to head of real estate equity strategies, effective immediately.
Aiken, who previously was head of acquisitions for MetLife’s real estate equity strategies group, will direct the firm’s direct property investment platform and will oversee MetLife’s investing activities across its real estate equity strategies.
Aiken succeeds Sara Queen, who had served as head of real estate equity at MetLife since 2021. Queen was named executive vice president and head of U.S. for Oxford Properties Group, where she is scheduled to start later in July. Aiken reports to Andrea Drasites, who will become global head of real estate and agricultural finance in October.
MetLife Investment Management, which managed $736.3 billion in assets as of March 31, manages $106.2 billion in real estate assets.
Previously, Aiken was a managing director at Safanad Ltd. and held real estate investment roles at BlackRock and Salomon Smith Barney.
“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,” said Brian Funk, MetLife Investment Management’s president, in a statement. “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.”
Aiken earned a bachelor of arts degree in business from Morehouse College and a master of science degree in real estate finance from New York University.