Company Presidents

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Dominic D'Alessandro (1994 - 2009)

Dominic D’Alessandro joined the Company in 1994 as President and Chief Executive Officer. During his fifteen-year tenure, Mr. D’Alessandro transformed Manulife from a small mutual life insurance company to one of the largest life insurance companies in the world.

Mr. D’Alessandro led the company through a number of transformative acquisitions, including Confederation Life’s Group Operations in 1994, and the amalgamation with North American Life Assurance Company in 1996. In 1996 Manulife achieved a long term goal of re-entry to the People’s Republic of China with the formation of Manulife – Sinochem the first joint venture company to be licensed in China. Re-entry to Japan was achieved in 1999 through an initial joint venture with Daihyaku Mutual Life Insurance Company.

In September 1999, Mr. D’Alessandro led the successful demutualization and conversion of Manulife to public company status. This important accomplishment set the stage for the Company to become a world leader in the financial services industry. In 2004, he managed the largest cross-border transaction in Canadian history with the successful completion of the merger with John Hancock Financial Services, creating one of the largest life insurance companies in the world.

Mr. D'Alessandro has received many awards and honours throughout his career, some highlights include:

2008 Inducted into Insurance Hall of Fame
2008 Appointed as a “Commendatore” of the Order of the Star of Italy
2005 Honoured with the International Horatio Alger Award
2004 Named ‘Canada’s Most Respected CEO’ for 2004
2003 Appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada
2002 Named Canada's CEO of the year by his peers

Career
1968-1975 Coopers & Lybrand
1975-1981 Genstar Limited
1981 - 1988 Royal Bank of Canada
1988 -1994 Laurentian Bank of Canada, President and CEO
1994 - 2009 Manulife Financial, President and CEO


Next President: Donald A. Guloien (2009 – Present)