Manulife names Patrick Graham as CEO for HK and Macau

Manulife Hong Kong has appointed Patrick Graham (pictured) as chief executive officer of Manulife. He will be reporting directly to Damien Green, president and CEO of Manulife Asia.

Graham will assume his new role on 1 January 2023, subject to regulatory approval. In his new position, Graham will be overseeing Manulife's business across Hong Kong and Macau. He will also become a member of Manulife's Asia division executive committee and global leadership team.

Graham is an insurance leader with a track record of delivering results at scale, both regionally and in multiple geographies across Asia, he will bring to Manulife Hong Kong and Macau more than 25 years of leadership experience in the insurance and financial services industry, according to the release. 

Graham joins Manulife from Cigna, where he covered eight markets including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea and Singapore in various senior leadership positions over the last decade with his most recent role as CEO, Asia Pacific. Prior to joining Cigna, Graham spent 14 years at GE Capital, which was then the financial services arm of General Electric. For the past three years, he has also been director and treasurer of the US ASEAN Business Council.

"As the longest continuously operating life insurer in the city, Hong Kong has always been Manulife's most important market in Asia with huge contributions to the group over the past 125 years. The appointment of Graham really highlights our commitment to Hong Kong and our ambitions in the region," Green said. "With his outstanding leadership caliber and track record of delivering excellent results, Graham will lead our Manulife Hong Kong and Macau team to take our business to new heights and serve the health protection, retirement and financial needs of the one in every three Hongkongers who are our customers. I am excited that he is joining our winning team," Green added. 

Following the new appointment, Pankaj Banerjee, who since late May has held dual roles as interim CEO for Manulife (International) and chief distribution officer for Manulife Asia, will revert full time as chief distribution officer, Manulife Asia, in January 2023. 

"Thanks to Pankaj's stewardship of Manulife Hong Kong and Macau's business which demonstrated further resilience in the past few months. His contribution to growing our business from strength to strength is immense. I look forward to having him back to his regional role to drive the expansion of our multi-distribution channels across Asia," said Green.

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