Anant Bhalla

Proven track record as an investor, business builder and operator in financial services across multiple companies spanning asset management, insurance and wealth management.

From 2020-24, let the successful transformation of the ~$70bn balance sheet of American Equity (NYSE: AEL) into a prudent investor for insurance policyholders with capabilities in asset structuring, private credit and real assets. Delivered a 3x return for shareholders in tenor as CEO, culminating in a take private merger with Brookfield Reinsurance for a $4.3bn valuation. Improved business returns from an 8% ROE in 2020 to 18+% in 2023, by investing 25% of assets to private credit and real assets and being both a disciplined underwriter and operator.

Prior to AEL, brought an entrepreneurial approach and business mindset to the role of public company CFO, CRO and Treasurer across multiple organizations, including Brighthouse Financial, MetLife, AIG, Lincoln Financial and Ameriprise Financial. Drove significant transformation at the following companies:

• As CFO of newly public Brighthouse Financial (BHF), created an industry first, innovative, hedging strategy to deliver $1-2bn of annual cash distributions across most market conditions, an approach followed by other leading global players.
• 2016-17, As a business builder, built the whole organizational team at BHF across functions over a 18-month period as decoupled the business from MetLife, unbundling 2 decades of growth via acquisitions at MetLife US.
• From 2014-17, As CFO of both MetLife’s US Retail business, relaunched the business to be successful in life insurance and annuities while managing a $200bn balance sheet.
• From 2001-2014, worked at Ameriprise Financial, Lincoln Financial and AIG across investment management, finance, risk and general management of business lines.

Lives in Miami, Florida and Aspen, Colorado with his wife and two sons. Loves to travel extensively and enjoys tennis, photography and being a student of the markets and leadership.