Page 22 - Demo CEOs of the Fortune 500

efforts to improve our communities. We continue to provide support through charitable giving and volunteerism, as well as through innovative programs that help enrich the places where we live and work. For us, a better tomorrow starts today with education. Through both live events and a digital curriculum, our FutureSmart program has taught more than 100,000 middle schoolers smart money management skills, while our scholarships and internships have helped thousands of students find their chosen career path. And, through our LifeBridge free life insurance program, we have provided and paid premiums for more than $680 million in coverage to eligible working parents or guardians to help cover their children's educational expenses if they die. This focus on education is matched only by our efforts to foster economic development and vitality in our region. Through partnering with the Five Colleges in growing fields like data science, investing in small businesses through our $5 million Springfield Venture Fund, or helping 30 local entrepreneurs get training and mentoring through Valley Venture Mentors, we are supporting the same start-up spirit our founders had more than a century and a half ago. As we approach our 165th anniversary this May, we know the world will continue to evolve. But through it all, our employees and financial professionals come to work each day with a shared purpose: to help people secure their future and protect the ones the love. It's a noble cause – and one we are proud to deliver as we seek to build a better tomorrow for our customers, employees and the region we call home."
• I spend a good 40 to 50% of the time out of my office,” Crandall said in an interview on the Sirius XM radio show “Leadership in Action.” “It’s dangerous for senior executives to think they know what is going on by reading the paper and talking on the phone," he said. "They need to get out there. When I am in the office, I talk to frontline employees. We are active now in reengineering what we do to put the customer first and become more efficient. The Toyota Method and Kaizen have been big in manufacturing for a long time, but it’s become important for us so I try to get out there and see different parts of the business.”
• In the same interview, Crandall discussed the company’s management system. “We use the MassMutual Way, which is a lean management system that begins with a huddle,” he said. “We block off a time every morning when everyone can do to their huddle to understand what happened the day before, the work plan for the day, and what is working and what needs attention. We have tiers of huddles. My executive leadership team has a weekly huddle. The idea is to get everyone aligned.”
Current Focus
• Company Snapshot: Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), with 1,800 offices and more than 13 million clients worldwide, is one of the largest life insurance companies in the world. Founded in 1851, MassMutual is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and has paid dividends to eligible participating policy owners consistently since the 1860s. With whole life insurance as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement/ 401(k) plan services, and annuities. In addition, the company’s strong and growing network of financial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long term.
• Brings on M&A Expert: Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company has brought on a new head of strategy and corporate development with a history of leading through multiple major acquisitions from Capital One Financial Corporation, the Boston Business Journal reported in April 2017. Aaron Miller has joined the Springfield-based financial services giant after six years with Capital One as Managing Vice President of Strategy. He will be based in Boston. One of Miller’s primary tasks at Capital One was to look out for potential acquisition targets. During that time, the
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