Manulife Financial Names Scott Hartz Executive Vice President of Investment Division

TORONTO, June 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Warren A. Thomson, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, Manulife Financial Corporation, is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has appointed Scott Hartz as Executive Vice President, General Account Investments. In this role, Mr. Hartz oversees all U.S., Canadian and Asian general account investments, with total assets exceeding Cdn$166 billion.

Previously, Mr. Hartz, 48, oversaw all U.S. balance sheet investments for Manulife, a post he assumed in 2007. From 2004 - 2007 he was Senior Vice President and head of the Bond & Corporate Finance Group, overseeing all U.S. bond assets, having been the lead portfolio manager for the General account since 1998. He began his career with John Hancock in 1983.

Mr. Hartz is a graduate of Colby College and is both a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA). He resides in Duxbury, Massachusetts.

About Manulife Financial

Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily through John Hancock in the United States, the Company offers customers 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 Cdn$405 billion (US$322 billion) as at March 31, 2009.

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 www.manulife.com.