Manulife Financial Corp. and The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company announced that C. James (Jim) Prieur has been appointed to their Boards of Directors, effective January 1.

Prieur will sit on the Risk Committee.

Prieur brings extensive financial and insurance industry experience to Manulife's Boards. He served as Chief Executive Officer of CNO Financial Group, Inc. from 2006 until his retirement in 2011. CNO Financial Group is a life insurance holding company focused on the senior middle income market in the U.S.

Prior to joining CNO, Prieur was President and Chief Operating Officer of a major Canada-based international insurance company where he had previously led operations in Asia, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.

"We are delighted to welcome Jim Prieur to our Board," said Manulife Chair, Gail Cook-Bennett. "Jim's deep knowledge of insurance products in Asia and North America, investing expertise and executive experience will be of great benefit to the Board."

A Chartered Financial Analyst, Prieur is a member of the President's Circle of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and a member of The Pacific Council on International Policy and its China Committee.

Manulife Financial is a Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States.

More information:

manulife.com.

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