US insurer MetLife is increasing its focus on UK business development in the countdown to the implementation of the Retail Distribution Review from 1 January 2013.

Mark Baldwin has been named as business and strategic development director to focus on securing new distribution partners and building long-term trading partnerships. He joins from Friends Provident, where he was business development director, corporate benefits and held previous roles within the company as account director and national account manager.

“MetLife has a clear growth strategy in the UK market focused on the intermediary market and innovation in the retirement income and investment market,” said MetLife UK managing director Dominic Grinstead.

MetLife’s assets under management were £2.57 billion ($4.00 billion) at the end of March, 15 per cent up from the £2.24 billion at the beginning of 2012.