Our Story
Continuing to Raise the Bar on Our Ambition: Delivering Sustainable, Long-Term Growth
We’re proud to share a refreshed enterprise strategy that positions Manulife for sustainable, long-term growth and meets the demands of a fast-changing world. Our bold new ambition is to be the number one choice for customers by delivering seamless and personalized health, wealth and protection solutions.
For more information on Manulife’s refreshed strategy, watch a detailed explainer video featuring Phil Witherington here:
To achieve our ambition, we’ve introduced new and elevated strategic priorities enabled by digital-first integrated platforms, capital strength, financial discipline and long-term vision, and strong risk and governance:
Our legacy is built on more than 135 years of helping make people’s decisions easier and lives better, and our purpose continues to guide us as we look ahead with renewed ambition to become the number one choice for customers.
Our Values are the guideposts that will help us achieve our bold Mission. They define who we are and how we work together: we are a digital, customer-centric market leader that's leading the change customers demand.
Own it
We feel empowered to make decisions and take action to deliver our mission.
Think big
Anything is possible. We can always find a better way.
Share your humanity
We build a supportive, diverse and thriving workplace.
Get it done together
We’re surrounded by an amazing team. Do it better by working together.
Obsess about customers
We predict their needs and do everything in our power to satisfy them.
Do the right thing
We act with integrity and do what we say.
We are proud of the accomplishments and recognitions received by our business segments, our colleagues and our company overall. Read on to see some of our recent achievements and honours.
We’ve been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers!
For the fourth year in a row, Mediacorp Canada Inc. has recognized Manulife as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. This national competition identifies companies who lead their industry in creating exceptional workplaces. Work atmosphere, benefits, development, performance management, communications, and community involvement are all areas considered for the Top Employers in Canada.
2024 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Winner
Manulife has received the 2024 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award (GEWA) for the second year in a row, which reinforces our commitment to our people. This award recognizes the most engaged workplace cultures in the world.
Manulife Named One of the World’s Best Employers 2023
For the fourth consecutive year in a row, Manulife was named one of the World’s Best Employers by Forbes. We also were recognized by Forbes as one of Canada’s Best Employers for the seventh consecutive year, and one of Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity in 2023.
Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2023
Manulife was named by HR Asia as one of the “Best Companies to work for in Asia in 2023” across six of our Asian markets (mainland China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines).
We’ve been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers!
For the third year in a row, Mediacorp Canada Inc. has recognized Manulife as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. This national competition determines who leads their industries in offering exceptional workplaces. Employers are evaluated using criteria that includes work atmosphere, benefits, development, performance management, communications, and community involvement.
Manulife Recognized as one of Canada's Best Employers for Diversity
Manulife has been named as one of Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity in 2023 by Forbes. This recognition reinforces our commitment to cultivate a diverse and inclusive environment where all colleagues are inspired to bring their authentic and whole selves to work every day. Forbes selected Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity based on an independent survey from approximately 12,000 Canadian workers at companies with at least 500 employees. In addition to the survey, each company’s diversity-related best practices were analyzed and incorporated into the rankings.
Manulife Named to Canada’s Best 50 Corporate Citizens Ranking by Corporate Knights
Manulife has, for the third year in a row, been named a top corporate citizen in Canada by Corporate Knights. We are honoured to be recognized as one of Corporate Knights' leaders on sustainable investments and revenues, as we seek to deliver products and services that improve health outcomes and provide financial security for our stakeholders. This work aligns with our global Impact Agenda, through which we are making ambitious goals to build a better business to better the world.
Manulife – one of the World’s Best Insurance Companies
Manulife has been recognized by Forbes as one of the World’s Best Insurance Companies in 2023. This recognition reinforces our commitment to putting customers first and exceeding expectations through digitization and innovation. In partnership with Statista, Forbes developed its list based on survey responses obtained between mid-March and mid-April from more than 30,000 people in 15 different countries.
Manulife recognized as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers 2023
We’ve been named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc. for the sixth year running. Our global Diversity, Equity. and Inclusion (DEI) aspiration is to cultivate a diverse and inclusive workplace, in which all colleagues are inspired to bring their authentic and whole selves to work, enabling them to thrive personally and professionally to best serve our customers, business partners, and communities.
Manulife included in Bloomberg’s 2023 Gender-Equality Index
Manulife has been named to Bloomberg's Gender-Equality Index for the fifth consecutive year. The Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI) tracks the performance of public companies committed to disclosing their efforts to support gender equality through policy development, representation, and transparency.
Manulife recognized as one of Canada’s Best Employers
Manulife has been named to the Forbes list of Canada’s Best Employers for the seventh year running. This recognition reinforces our incredible winning team who help to make Manulife a great place to be, and who are committed to making a difference in people’s lives.
Manulife was selected as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People for 2023
Manulife has once again been recognized as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People by Mediacorp Canada Inc., continuing to make it a priority to recruit and develop young people. We recognize that young people cannot succeed simply based on their technical skills – they also need to learn soft skills. For this reason, each of our programs targeting young people is structured to encourage collaboration, communication skills, relationship building, presentation skills, problem solving and analysis, and leadership abilities.
Manulife named to 2022 Dow Jones Sustainability Index
Manulife has once again been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America and was one of only [seven] insurers across North America to be included in the index, recognizing the organization's continued and strengthening commitment to sustainability performance. Manulife was placed in the 89th percentile of its industry group with its score benefiting from sustainability progress including ongoing improvements to its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices and disclosures.
Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures
Waterstone Human Capital has named Manulife as one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures™ of 2021-2022. This national program annually recognizes best-in-class Canadian organizations for having cultures that have helped them enhance performance and sustain a competitive advantage. And we are now in Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures™ Hall of Fame.
Manulife recognized by the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resources Management (HKIMRM)
Manulife received three awards form HKIMRK: Merit Award for Talent Management; Excellent Award for Diversity and Inclusion; Grand Award of the Year. Overall, these awards recognise the excellence of a service provider in providing its client with a talent attraction strategy; supports diversity and inclusion initiatives; and is seen as the most outstanding example of best practice in action, inspiring Hong Kong HR practitioners with new ideas to help them excel in their profession.
From being the first in North America to insure people living with diabetes to launching AI in underwriting in Canada, our history is one of innovation, leadership and finding new ways to make decisions easier and lives better. See the timeline for a glimpse into some of our firsts.
2021
Net zero emissions
We announce a net zero emissions commitment to support climate goals worldwide.
2020
Remote & fully connected
Faced with the global COVID-19 pandemic, we transitioned 98 percent of our 35,000 strong global workforce to remote work and remained fully connected with our nearly 100,000 agents thanks to our investments in digital initiatives, all while supporting our customers.
$3.5M DE&I investment
Manulife and John Hancock announce the investment of more than $3.5 million over the next two years to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and the communities we serve.
Racially and ethnically diverse recruitment efforts
We announce the establishment of leadership and recruitment goals to increase the representation of racially and ethnically diverse communities/individuals across our North American businesses as we advance our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts.
2019
Myanmar
Manulife announces that it has been selected as a preferred applicant by Myanmar’s Ministry of Planning and Finance to set up a wholly foreign-owned life insurance operation.
Youngest female chief economist
Frances Donald becomes Manulife’s Chief Economist. She is the youngest woman to become a chief economist in Canada.
John Hancock Aspire
John Hancock, Verily and Onduo launch John Hancock Aspire, the first life insurance solution designed for Americans living with diabetes.
2018
Brand transformation
Manulife and John Hancock launch global rebrand.
AI
Manulife is the first Canadian life insurer to underwrite using artificial intelligence.
Vitality Go
We are the first company to fully embrace behavioural-based life insurance with the launch of John Hancock Vitality Go on all life insurance policies at no additional cost to the customer.
2017
Hitting $1T
Global Assets Under Management and Administration are over $1 trillion for the first time.
Setting a world record
Manulife insurance agent Joe Sun makes the record books for an astounding 63-year career!
Alexa skills
Manulife launches two new skills for Amazon Alexa.
Twine app
John Hancock launches an app that helps couples plan their finances.
Big steps in China
Manulife is the first financial institution to receive an Investment Company Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise (WFOE) license in China.
2016
Mobile claims
China accepts claims via WeChat.
Coverage for HIV
We are the first insurer in Canada to offer life insurance to people who are HIV positive.
2015
Biometrics
Manulife is the first company in Canada to introduce voice biometrics and natural language understanding in an interactive voice response (IVR) system.
ManulifeMOVE
Manulife Asia launches an innovative insurance concept that rewards customers for being healthier and more active.
Supporting wellness with Vitality
We start a first-ever life insurance partnership between John Hancock Insurance and Vitality, the global leader in integrating wellness benefits with life insurance products.
2012
Cambodia
Our Cambodian head office opens.
2004
We merge with John Hancock
It makes us the largest life insurer in Canada, second largest in North America and fifth largest in the world.
2000
$1B net income
We’re the first Canadian life insurance company to reach that milestone.
1999
We go public
We start trading on the TSX, NYSE, SEHK and PSE – at $2.5Bm it’s the largest IPO in Canada’s history.
Japan and Vietnam
Manulife is the first Canadian insurer to launch a joint venture in Japan, and the first foreign-owned insurance company to do business in Vietnam.
1996
Joining forces in Shanghai
Manulife-Sinochem is China’s first joint venture life insurance company.
1993
Manulife Bank launches
We’re the first Canadian insurance company to open a bank.
1992
First in China
We are the first Canadian life insurance company to open an office in China (Beijing).
1985
Indonesia
A joint venture with Dharmala Group and the International Finance Corporation forms P.T. Asuransi Jiwi Dharmala Manulife.
1981
Lower premiums for non-smokers
We are one of the first insurers to offer lower rates to non-smokers.
1978
First female Director and Chair
Dr. Gail C. A. Cook-Bennett is our first female Director, and in 2008, our first female Chair of the Board.
1961
$1 billion
Our total assets reach $1 billion.
1956
Early adopters
We’re the first insurance company in Canada to embrace mainframe computer technology with the installation of the IBM 650.
1942
Insurance for people with diabetes
We are the first North American company to offer life insurance to people living with diabetes.
1925
New HQ
Our head office at 200 Bloor Street in Toronto officially opens.
1903
Entry into the US market
A small office in Detroit opens its doors.
1897
We expand into Asia
The first Manulife policy is sold in Shanghai.
1893
International expansion begins
The sale of our first policy outside Canada, in Bermuda, kicks off our international operations.
1887
The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company is founded
Manulife offered two innovative insurance products to Canadians right away and insured 915 lives in 1887.
Contact our Corporate Archives team for more information.
Questions about our history?