Manulife has named Asia President and CEO Phil Witherington as its new CEO for global operations. Witherington will succeed Roy Gori, who is retiring from the role, effective 8 May 2025.
“As both our Chief Financial Officer and now as CEO of the Asia Segment he [Witherington] has consistently demonstrated the ability to navigate complexity, deliver on commitments and drive change and highly engaged teams through his authentic leadership,” Don Lindsay, Chair of the Board of Manulife, stated.
Witherington brings 25 years of experience in insurance and financial services with him. He has served for the company since 2014 and joined the Executive Leadership Team in 2017. He first took on the role of Chief Financial Officer, then as President and CEO for Manulife Asia.
Prior to Manulife, Witherington held roles in HSBC, AIA and KPMG. He is also a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Speaking on his retirement from the role, Gori said, ““It has been my honour to serve as Manulife’s President and CEO and I’m extremely proud of our team’s many accomplishments.
He also said that strong results had enabled the business to deliver superior operating results, de-risk the business, and become a digital customer leader. Speaking on Witherington appointment, he added “I’m thrilled that Phil will lead that next phase in the company’s growth given his deep understanding of our global business and principled leadership.”
Speaking about the outgoing Gori, Lindsay said, “Roy is an inspiring, values-driven leader who has transformed the company and delivered outstanding results over his tenure as our President and CEO. Our company is well-positioned for sustained future growth because of Roy’s disciplined focus on execution and the tremendous team and culture he’s built.”
Witherington is currently preparing for the transition, with Gori serving as an Advisor through 31 August 2025, and will name his successor in the upcoming months.
