Manulife Financial Announces Distinguished Panel of Judges for "Manulife: Entry Into Asia Challenge"

• Leading members of finance and business to choose winners

TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC

SEHK:945

 

TORONTO, May 16, 2013 /CNW/ - Manulife Financial today released the roster of judges selected to choose the winner of the Manulife: Entry into Asia Challenge.

The elite panel, listed below, is made up of distinguished members of the business & finance community:

Ramona Cheng:  Ramona Cheng is Executive Director of Ernst & Young and the Americas Markets Leader of Ernst & Young's China Business Network, a bilateral platform designed to assist clients in developing, refining and implementing their China inbound and outbound strategies. Ms Cheng has over 20 years of corporate finance experience across North America and Asia, including five years of investment banking experience in Greater China.

Philip Leong: Philip Leong is Vice President and Director, and Chairman's Council member at RBC Dominion Securities.  He is the Founder and Chairman of the Liberty Foundation, an organization with the dual mandate of promoting international freedom and democracy domestically and internationally and helping new immigrants to settle and integrate in Canada.  In 2012 Mr. Leong was appointed by the Prime Minister to represent Canada in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council.

Jacqueline Sava: Jacqueline Sava is Founder and Director of Possibilities of Soak Wash Inc., a consumer goods manufacturer, whose products are distributed through boutiques and department stores across North America, as well as in the U.K., Australia and Japan and at www.soakwash.com.  In 2009 Jacqueline received the Woman Exporter Award from the Organization of Women in International Trade, in recognition of successfully exporting to international markets. Last fall she was invited to appear before the Standing Committee on International Trade of the House of Commons as part of the discussion regarding a trade agreement with Japan. 

After reviewing 46 entries submitted by teams of university business school students from across Canada, seven teams were chosen as finalists.  These teams will present their plans to the judges the third week of May. The three winners of the competition will be announced in Toronto on May 22. 

The Manulife: Entry into Asia Challenge asked undergraduate and graduate business school students at Canadian universities to create a business plan for a Canadian small or medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) to expand into any market in Asia. Competing teams will demonstrate their ability to think strategically about entry into Asian markets while demonstrating their understanding of the unique attributes, challenges and realities facing Canadian SMEs.

The University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management is managing this one-time only competition. Additional details on the competition are available at manulife.com/asiachallenge.

About Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. Clients look to Manulife for strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions. Our international network of employees, agents and distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management products and services to millions of clients. We also provide asset management services to institutional customers. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$555 billion (US$547 billion) as at March 31, 2013. The Company operates as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John Hancock in the United States.

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 manulife.com.

About the Rotman School of Management
The Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto is redesigning business education for the 21st century with a curriculum based on Integrative Thinking. Located in the world's most diverse city, the Rotman School fosters a new way to think that enables the design of creative business solutions. The School is currently raising $200 million to ensure that Canada has the world-class business school it deserves. For more information, visit www.rotman.utoronto.ca.

SOURCE: Manulife Financial Corporation

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Rotman School of Management 
Ken McGuffin 
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