John Hancock Ranks #1 Among Top 10 at 2013 Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service(SM)

BOSTON, March 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock ranked first among the top ten most decorated companies in the 2013 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, as announced at the 7^th annual Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service, held recently in Las Vegas. The ranking was determined by a point system earned by the nominations submitted to the award committee in 2013.

Moreover, John Hancock Signature Services (JHSS) won Gold for "Best Use of Technology in Customer Service for Back Office Support," while John Hancock Annuities won Gold for "Collaborative Solutions for a New Product or Service with Collaborative Service Model."

In addition, JHSS also won 11 Bronze Stevies in 8 sales and customer service categories, while John Hancock Annuities won 8 bronzes in 8 categories.

"We are very proud of our teams' dedication to providing consistently excellent service," said John Hatch, Vice President, John Hancock. "Stevie Award recognition is a positive achievement for our associates, while also recognizing our dedication and ongoing commitment to our customers."

The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service are recognized throughout the world for sales awards, contact center awards, and customer service awards.  The Stevie Awards organizes several of the world's leading business awards shows including the prestigious American Business Awards(SM)  and International Business Awards(SM).  More than 1,100 entries from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted to this year's competition, an increase of 10 percent over 2012.  Finalists were determined by the average scores of 120 professionals worldwide, acting as preliminary judges.  More than 100 members of eight specialized judging committees determined Stevie Award placements from among the Finalists during final judging this year.

"From our perspective this was the most successful Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service yet," said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards.  "Not just because of the increase in the number and variety of entries, but in the extraordinary quality of the entries."    

About the Stevie® Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.  Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide.  Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.StevieAwards.com.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial Corporation
John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife Financial, a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, the Company offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$532 billion (US$535 billion) as at December 31, 2012. 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.

The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers a broad range of financial products and services, including life insurance, annuities, mutual funds, 401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.

SOURCE John Hancock