Kate Schaeffer

Head of IM strategy and Governance MassMutual

Kate Schaeffer is the Head of Investment Management Strategy and Governance and joined MassMutual in 2010. She has held a number of leadership, program management and business transformation roles spanning MMUS, Investment Management and Enterprise Risk Management. Most recently Kate rejoined Investment Management (IM) in February 2024, leading a newly created Strategy and Governance team that drives IM’s strategy forward, optimizing governance and decision-making processes, analyzes, and establishes common metrics, processes, and tools with key internal and external stakeholders and helps to progress the IM target operating model.

Prior to that, Kate was Head of Risk Strategy in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) focusing on the execution and adoption of the risk management framework and risk strategy for MassMutual and its subsidiaries. She led the compilation of the Own Risk Solvency Assessment filing, represented ERM on numerous committees and initiatives, and built a talented Risk Strategy team.

Before joining ERM, Kate led the Integration Management Office in MMUS, responsible for compiling and managing the Transition Services Agreement (TSA) and all subsequent integration efforts for the Great American Life Insurance Company acquisition now MassMutual Ascend.

Kate’s first leadership role was Head of the Program Management Office for Investment Management. She built and led a 70+ member team responsible for planning and executing technology and business projects and programs whose purpose is to support and enhance management of the general investment account. She also served in an interim role as head of Strategy and Planning for MassMutual Strategic Distributors, contributing to the launch of the organization in many capacities across finance, marketing and change management.

Kate holds a BS in business management from The University of Saint Joseph and an MBA from the University of Hartford.