Prior to her retirement in 2023, Laura Hay held the esteemed position of Global Head of Insurance at KPMG LLP. During her tenure, she served as a key advisor to global boards and executive management teams, specializing in transformation, growth strategy, customer-focused innovation, and risk mitigation. Notably, Hay led a team of over 10,000 professionals across more than 90 countries, offering a spectrum of audit, tax, and advisory services. Under her leadership, KPMG’s insurance practice emerged as the firm’s fastest-growing financial services sector.
With over 35 years of industry experience, Hay possesses a diverse skill set spanning technical accounting, client engagement, change management, risk identification and mitigation, and knowledge transfer through training. A champion of female leadership in financial services, she spearheaded multiple initiatives aimed at nurturing women leaders in the industry.
Hay’s professional journey includes notable roles within KPMG, where she served as a member of the Global Financial Services Leadership Team and contributed to the U.S. board of directors for five years and the KPMG Americas board for three years. Notably, she commenced her career at MetLife through an Actuarial Development Program, marking a significant milestone in her journey.
Beyond her professional commitments, Hay remains actively engaged in various philanthropic endeavors. She currently serves on the board of the Girl Scouts of Greater New York and the New Jersey Theater Alliance. Additionally, she has contributed her expertise to the St. John’s University Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance, and Actuarial Science, among other prestigious organizations.
Hay’s outstanding leadership has earned her recognition from esteemed publications and industry bodies alike. She was honored as an “Elite Woman 2023” by Insurance Business America and secured the top spot in The Consulting Report’s “Top 25 Financial Services Consulting Leaders” in 2022. Furthermore, she was lauded as the “Most Influential Woman in Re/Insurance” by Intelligent Insurer in 2017 and recognized as an “Inspiring Woman in Finance” in 2022 by the CPCU Society.
Laura Hay holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley, underlining her commitment to academic excellence and professional achievement. With her wealth of experience and unwavering dedication, Hay is poised to make significant contributions to the strategic direction and governance of MetLife, Inc.