It currently manages about $43 billion of commercial mortgages and $10 billion in direct real estate investments. Merck will oversee both the internal and external businesses. The new equity strategies group will be run by Mark Wilsmann, who has led MetLife's commercial mortgage business since 2003. The new debt strategies group, which will raise funds for real estate projects from institutional investors that include other insurance companies, pension plans and sovereign wealth funds, will be run by Brian Casey. He has been heading MetLife's Washington, D.C., real estate office.