Manulife Financial CEO named International Business Executive of the Year

OTTAWA, June 7, 2012 /CNW/ - The Board of Directors of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Donald A. Guloien, President and Chief Executive Officer of Manulife Financial has been named 2012 International Business Executive of the year.

Established in 1992, this prestigious award recognizes business executives of Canadian companies whose exemplary leadership has developed a strong, competitive Canadian presence in global markets. "Mr. Guloien richly deserves this recognition for the extraordinary success Manulife Financial has achieved as an international leader in the financial services industry", said Robert Youden, Chair of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

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

"This award is recognition of Manulife Financial's international success, the credit for which goes to many current and past employees and other partners around the world. I particularly want to recognize the significant support Manulife has received from our embassies, consulates and elsewhere in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, as well as the Department of Finance and the Prime Minister's Office," noted Donald Guloien, President and Chief Executive Officer of Manulife Financial. "I also want to thank our board of directors for their encouragement, advice and support of all our international expansions."

Mr. Guloien has held a variety of leadership roles within Manulife, through which he has developed operating experience in Canada, the U.S., Europe and Asia. From 1994 to 2001, Mr. Guloien led Manulife's Business Development unit, spearheading a number of key acquisitions, divestitures and strategic initiatives, including: Manulife's demutualization and its re-entry into Japan.

From 2001 to 2009, he was responsible for Manulife's worldwide investment operations, for which the Company's general fund assets grew from $80 billion to now over $200 billion. He also led the significant growth of the company's third-party asset management business, Manulife Asset Management, which now manages assets of $220 billion.

In 2009, Mr. Guloien became President and CEO of Manulife Financial. Over the past three years, Manulife Financial's Asian operation has become its fastest growing division, representing about one-third of the company's earnings excluding notable items.

Mr. Guloien is a member of the Mayor of Shanghai's International Business Leaders' Advisory Council, a board member of the Geneva Association and a former board member of LIMRA International.

"Guided by his vision and stewardship, Manulife Financial is a true international leader in the industry. Mr. Guloien and his Manulife colleagues are outstanding partners at all levels of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Network and remain a model of Canadian success both at home and abroad," stated Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. He added: "The Board of Directors, staff and members of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce are very pleased to recognize Mr. Guloien and offer sincere congratulations to him and all Manulife associates."

The award will be presented to Mr. Guloien at a dinner in Toronto on November 15, 2012.

Previous recipients of this prestigious award represent the upper echelon of Canadian business. Honourees include Guy Laliberté, Frank Stronach, Peter Munk, Ted Newall, Peter Godsoe, Guy Saint-Pierre, Allan Taylor, Laurent Beaudoin, Jim Balsillie and Michael Lazaridis, among others.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is the vital connection between business and the federal government. It helps shape public policy and decision-making to the benefit of businesses, communities and families across Canada with a network of over 420 chambers of commerce and boards of trade, representing 192,000 businesses of all sizes in all sectors of the economy and in all regions. News and information are available at www.chamber.ca or follow us on Twitter @CdnChamberofCom.