SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Dec. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), part of the Working Mother Media network, has honored MassMutual's Elaine Sarsynski with its 2012 Woman of Excellence International Achievement Award. Ms. Sarsynski is executive vice president of MassMutual's Retirement Services Division and Chairman and CEO of MassMutual International LLC.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121217/NE31083 )

NAFE honored Ms. Sarsynski on December 13 at the organization's awards event in New York City for her work in helping position women for leadership roles at home and abroad. She is a founding leader of MassMutual's Women's Leadership Network, which works to advance high-potential women. In 2012, Ms. Sarsynski led MassMutual's Retirement Services Division to earn the "Retirement Leader of the Year*" award for industry leadership and excellence in retirement plan services.

"The NAFE Women of Excellence are women of courage and compassion who often have overcome obstacles to achieve success and who give back by helping other women – locally, nationally, globally. The 2012 Women of Excellence demonstrate strength, commitment, accomplishment and selfless service," says Betty Spence, Ph.D., president, NAFE. "We honor Elaine for her personal career success as well as her commitment to the advancement of women around the globe."

"I am thrilled to be among such an accomplished group of women. The momentum women have established through their hard work, determination and commitment to excellence is unstoppable. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of an organization with such a passion for its mission and its membership," said Sarsynski.

*"Retirement Leader of the Year" awarded to MassMutual's Retirement Services Division for industry leadership and excellence in retirement plan services, Fund Industry Intelligence (Euromoney Institutional Investor), April 5, 2012.

About MassMutual

Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyholders. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyholders 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.

MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and its major affiliates include: Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB.

MassMutual's Retirement Services Division has been serving retirement plans for more than 65 years. It offers a full range of products and services for corporate, union, nonprofit and governmental employers' defined benefit, defined contribution and nonqualified deferred compensation plans. It serves approximately 1.6 million participants.

For more information, visit www.massmutual.com or find MassMutual on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google+. For information regarding MassMutual's Retirement Services Division, you may also visit massmutual.com/retire or find us on Facebook.com/RetireSmart and YouTube.com/RetireSmart.

Copyright ©2012 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and affiliates, Springfield, MA 01111-0001. All rights reserved.

Contact: Lisa Reilly
413-744-0589
lreilly@massmutual.com

SOURCE MassMutual Retirement Services