Susan Dabarno appointed to Manulife Board of Directors

TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC   
SEHK:945 

TORONTO, March 4, 2013 /CNW/ - Manulife Financial Corporation and The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company today announced that Susan Dabarno has been appointed to their Boards of Directors, effective March 1, 2013.  Ms. Dabarno will sit on the Audit Committee.

Ms. Dabarno possesses extensive wealth management and distribution expertise gained from her many years of experience building and leading some of the largest wealth management platforms in Canada. Most recently, Ms. Dabarno served as Executive Chairman of Richardson Partners Financial / GMP. Prior to that, she was President and Chief Executive Officer of Richardson Partners Financial. Before joining Richardson, she was President and Chief Operating Officer of Merrill Lynch Canada, and prior to that led sales for Merrill Lynch's International Private Client Group in New York. She has chaired the boards of Meridian Securities, Canada Trust Insurance Company, Barbados and First Canada Securities International as well as serving as trustee of Canada Trust Investment Income. Her director experience includes People Corporation, Canadian Trinity Life Insurance Company, Bridgepoint Health Foundation and Waterfront Toronto. Ms. Dabarno has contributed to the investment industry as a member of the Council of Governors of the Investment Funds Institute of Canada and as a director of the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada.

"We are delighted to welcome Sue Dabarno," said Manulife Chair, Gail Cook-Bennett.  "Sue is an innovative executive whose deep knowledge of wealth management and distribution will be an asset to our boards."

Ms. Dabarno is a graduate of McGill University and a Fellow of the Certified General Accountants Association. She has been awarded the Diamond Jubilee Medal and honoured by the YWCA of New York City as a Woman of Distinction.

About Manulife Financial

Manulife Financial is a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. Clients look to Manulife for strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions. Our international network of employees, agents and distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management products and services to millions of clients. We also provide asset management services to institutional customers. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$532 billion (US$535 billion) as at December 31, 2012. The Company operates as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John Hancock in the United States.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at manulife.com.

SOURCE: Manulife Financial Corporation