John Hancock Names Linda A. Watters Vice President, Government Relations --Former Michigan Commissioner of Banking & Insurance to focus on state legislative and regulatory relations

BOSTON, Nov 09, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- John Hancock announced today that Linda A. Watters has joined the company as Vice President, Government Relations, effective November 2nd. In her new position, Ms. Watters will be primarily responsible for state legislative and regulatory relations, as well as John Hancock's relationship with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Because of its business structure, John Hancock's primary insurance state regulators are in Massachusetts, Michigan and New York.

Ms. Watters reports to Thomas E. Samoluk, Vice President & Counsel, Government Relations.

Ms. Watters was most recently a Managing Director, Financial Risk Management, with KPMG LLP in Chicago. From 2003 to 2007, she served as Commissioner, the Office of Financial and Insurance Services, for the State of Michigan. Ms.

Watters was appointed to the post by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and unanimously confirmed by the Michigan State Senate. During her tenure, Michigan fully implemented coordination of the regulation of the insurance, banking and securities industries. Ms. Watters also was the founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Detroit Commerce Bank from 1998 to 2003. Prior to that, she held positions with commercial banks in the Midwest and with General Motors Corporation.

"John Hancock is delighted to welcome Linda to our government relations staff.

She was a highly respected commissioner in Michigan and is held in high esteem by her former colleagues at the NAIC and the industry," said James D. Gallagher, Executive Vice President, Communications, Government & Community Relations.

"Given the increased activity at the state level regarding reform and regulation of the financial services industry, Linda brings a wealth of experience and resources to her role here, allowing Tom Samoluk to devote more time to Federal legislative and regulatory matters which also have grown more complex." Ms. Watters is currently a Director of Access Community Health in Chicago. She has been a Director and Finance Committee Chair for United Healthcare Corporation (Nasdaq); a Director of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce and Detroit Downtown Development Authority; and a Trustee of Hutzel Women's Hospital. In 2007 and 2005, she was named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Metropolitan Detroit by Crain's Detroit Business. Ms. Watters holds an MBA from the University of Dayton and a BA in Economics from Bowling Green State University.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial Corporation John Hancock Financial is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 22 countries and territories worldwide. 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, fixed and variable annuities, fixed products, 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 www.johnhancock.com.

Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and in most of Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, Manulife 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 Cdn$347 billion (US$407 billion) as at September 30, 2009.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial may be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.

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