MetLife, a global provider of insurance, annuities and employee benefit programs, has appointed Ricardo Anzaldua general counsel, effective Dec. 17. He will report to Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Steven Kandarian, and become a member of MetLife's executive group.

Anzaldua will lead the company's global legal operations, and oversee MetLife's government relations and public policy department, corporate secretary's office and corporate ethics and compliance group. He will succeed Nicholas Latrenta who, announced earlier this year his plans to retire after a 43-year career at MetLife.

Anzaldua joins MetLife from The Hartford Financial Services Group, where he was associate general counsel and senior vice president. At The Hartford, he provided counsel on commercial and consumer markets and served as legal advisor for the company's group benefits business.

Anzaldua joined the company in 2007 as director, corporate law, and corporate secretary. He also co-chaired the diversity committee of The Hartford's law department. Prior to The Hartford, Anzaldua was corporate partner at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton LLP. His practice areas included general corporate transactions, corporate governance, and negotiating international trade agreements.