NEW YORK, March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AXA Equitable Life Insurance Co. has named Tracey Gray-Walker as its new Chief Diversity Officer focused on the continued growth and implementation of the company's integrated diversity strategy. The announcement was made today by Christopher "Kip" Condron, Chairman and CEO of AXA Equitable. As Chief Diversity Officer, Ms. Gray-Walker will drive the advancement of AXA Equitable's goal to foster a diverse and inclusive environment within all of the company's business units. She will also advise and support executive management on diversity and inclusion goals; develop relationships with diverse professional organizations for talent acquisition; and measure progress on the company's inclusion initiatives. Ms. Gray-Walker most recently held the position of Vice President of Business Development and Opportunities. In this capacity she led the company's Retail Distribution channel in achieving exponential revenue and recruiting growth within diverse markets. "The role of the Chief Diversity Officer is to infuse diversity into the most important business issues, which is essential to growing our market share and serving our clients," said Mr. Condron. "Tracey's achievements and influence in corporate and consumer arenas have given her the experience to lead our diversity and inclusion programs to drive positive business results and distinguish AXA Equitable's people and services." Ms. Gray-Walker joined AXA Equitable's Financial Management Associate Training Program in 1989 from Touche Ross & Co., and rapidly ascended within the organization to key positions in marketing, sales, business planning, operations, technology and finance. Throughout her career, she has been a significant influencer as a financial manager of the Northeastern Region of Retail Distribution; project manager for the development of the company's Workstation, which is a client relationship management tool; and Assistant Vice President of Customer Marketing and Lead Generation. "Tracey's leadership, as a member of the company's Diversity and Inclusion Council and as head of Business Development and Opportunities, has equipped her with the knowledge and means to attract, retain and develop the best people," said Jennifer Blevins, Executive Vice President of Human Resources. "Her insight will help strengthen the inclusive culture our organization recognizes as a driver for success." Ms. Gray-Walker earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. She is active in several professional and community organizations. She is a member of the Executive Leadership Council; a Trustee of the Board for The New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services in the Autistic Community (COSAC); and a member of AXA Equitable's Diversity and Inclusion Council. In 2006, she was named one of "25 Influential Black Women In Business" by the Network Journal -- a monthly publication dedicated to educating and empowering Black professionals and small business owners. In 2007, she was featured in Profiles in Diversity Journal as one of its "Women Worth Watching" in 2008. About AXA Equitable In business since 1859, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company is a leading financial protection company and one of the nation's premier providers of life insurance, annuity, and investment products and services. AXA Equitable's assets under management totaled $888.6 billion as of December 31, 2007. Its products and services are distributed to consumers through its retail distribution channel, AXA Advisors, LLC; to the financial services market through its wholesale distribution channel, AXA Distributors, LLC; and to corporations and their employees through its corporate distribution channel, Corporate Markets. AXA Equitable and AllianceBernstein, L.P. are affiliated companies. AllianceBernstein L.P. is one of the largest publicly traded global asset management firms in the world. AXA Equitable, a subsidiary of AXA Financial Inc., is part of the global AXA Group, a worldwide leader in financial protection strategies and wealth management. AXA Group's operations are geographically diverse, with major operations in Western Europe, North America, and the Asia/Pacific region. AXA Group is listed as the 15th largest company in the world on the 2007 Fortune Global 500 list (based on revenues). It had $1.87 trillion in assets under management as of December 31, 2007. Listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, the AXA ordinary share trades under the symbol AXA. The AXA American Depositary Share is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol AXA. AXA Equitable is a sponsor of the Variable Annuities Knowledge Center (http://www.variableannuityfacts.org/), an online resource aimed at helping consumers understand the facts surrounding variable annuities. The Variable Annuities Knowledge Center is operated by a standalone non-profit organization and is overseen by an independent advisory board. DATASOURCE: AXA Equitable CONTACT: Jo Ann Tizzano, +1-212-314-2979, , or Ana Sandoval, +1-212-314-4964, , both of AXA Equitable Web site: http://www.axa-equitable.com/

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