George P. Jenkins, a MetLife Chairman, Dies at 94
The New York TImes
October 17, 2009

By DOUGLAS MARTIN

George P. Jenkins, who as chairman of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company helped
develop the company’s investment strategy, including buying New York City bonds during the
fiscal crisis in the 1970s, died Wednesday in Glen Ridge, N.J. He was 94.

Metropolitan Life, which announced the death, said the cause was heart failure.

Mr. Jenkins helped develop private placement, which refers to privately negotiated deals to sell
stock and debt, as an important vehicle for institutional investment in fixed-income markets. He
helped finance the emergence of Pan American World Airways as an international air carrier as
well as the growth of the American Broadcasting Companies into a major television network.

During New York City’s fiscal crisis in the 1970s, Mr. Jenkins, as MetLife’s chairman, was
instrumental in the formation of the Municipal Assistance Corporation to resolve the city’s short-
term debt problem. He also was involved in MetLife’s buying bonds issued by the agency.

George Pollock Jenkins was born in Clarksburg, W.Va., on Feb. 24, 1915. He graduated from the
Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J.; from Princeton as a Phi Beta Kappa economics major; and
from Harvard Business School.

In 1938, he joined MetLife, and became an officer in 1951. He became financial vice president
and chief investment officer in 1962; a director in 1964; vice chairman in 1969; and chairman in
1973. He retired in 1980 at age 65.

Mr. Jenkins served on many corporate boards and was involved with many nonprofit
organizations. His favorite was the Blair Academy, of which he was a former chairman of the
board of trustees.

Mr. Jenkins is survived by his wife of 64 years, the former Marian O’Brien; his sister, Ellen
Jenkins Smith; his sons James, Robert and Richard; and seven grandchildren.

Posted 10/27/2009

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