US insurance giant MetLife has hired AT&T marketer Esther Lee as its new lead global chief marketing officer, with a brief to help the brand develop “simplified” customer experiences.

Lee joins from her role as senior vice president, brand marketing, advertising and sponsorships at AT&T, where he has spent five years.

In her new job, beginning on 12 January, Lee will manage all aspects of global marketing, advertising and promotion. She will report to MetLife chairman, president and CEO Steven Kandarian.

Lee has previously held senior roles on both client and agency side. For five years, she was global chief creative officer at Coca-Cola. She also led Euro RSCG’s operations in North America, and co-founded her own ad agency DiNoto Lee LLC.

“As MetLife focuses globally on meeting evolving consumer needs, [Lee’s] deep understanding of international brand and marketing dynamics and her success in leading the growth of established worldwide brands such as AT&T and Coca-Cola will be tremendous assets,” said Kandarian.

“Her broad record of achievement in marketing, advertising and brand management will add a valuable perspective to the Executive Group as we seek new value creation opportunities and strive to develop new and simplified customer experiences.”

Lee added: “As MetLife is undergoing a transformation to become a global, customer-centric brand, marketing will play a pivotal role. By driving MetLife’s strong iconic brand with best-in-class global marketing, the opportunity for growth and long-term shareholder value is immense.”

AT&T is yet to announcement a replacement for Lee.