Manulife Financial Plans Leaders

Sachin N. Shah (53) was appointed General Manager, Emerging Markets, Asia in August 2020. He is a member of Manulife’s Asia Executive Committee and Global Leadership Team. 

Sachin is responsible for driving the development of the Company’s operations in Southeast and South Asia – namely Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines and Vietnam. The General Managers of these markets report to him. He is based in Singapore. 

Sachin has vast industry experience, principally in Asia and the United States. He joined Manulife from AIG, where he was CEO, Asia Pacific General Insurance. He previously held a variety of senior leadership roles across a 20-year tenure at MetLife, most recently as Chairman, President and CEO, MetLife Japan. Sachin also served as President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan. 

He has a Masters in Finance and Technology from Stevens Institute of Technology

Grace Mallabo is an executive director and President and CEO of Manulife Financial Plans. She is also the Chief Health and Product Officer of Manulife Philippines.

Grace has 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, with various leadership roles in Product Management and Marketing, Health Business and Strategy. More recently, she has led the e-Commerce Business and Digital Marketing of another local insurer. She holds a Business Economics degree from the University of the Philippines.

Matthew Edward Lawrence (44) serves as a non-executive director of Manulife Philippines, Manulife Financial Plans, Inc., and Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corp. He was first elected as director on 01 October 2019. He also serves as a member of the Company’s Audit Committee, Nomination and Remuneration Committee, and Related Party Transactions Committee. Matt joined Manulife as Regional Controller, Asia, on 30 June 2019. In this role, he is responsible for the Asia regional finance team, overseeing financial planning and analysis, management reporting, expense management and accounting policy

Matt has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, holding leadership positions in both the corporate and professional services fields that span across North America, Europe and Asia. Prior to joining Manulife, he worked at Prudential where he held a series of progressive roles; most recently as Finance Director of Prudential Assurance Company Singapore, where he was responsible for strategic planning and analysis, financial reporting, finance operations, and finance innovation. Prior to his time with Prudential, he spent many years at KPMG and has experience that covers accounting advisory, audit, and transaction services.

A Chartered Accountant and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Matt holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science. He speaks frequently at industry events on the subject of accounting change for insurance, most recently speaking at events in Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea.

Anthony Buchanan (40) serves as a non-executive director of Manulife Philippines and Manulife Financial Plans, Inc., having been first elected as such on 01 January 2020.

Anthony is the Head of Operations and IT Performance of Manulife Asia. He is likewise a member of the board of directors of Manulife IT Development Centre and a board supervisor of Manulife Information and Technology Services Co., Ltd. in Chengdu, China. Prior to joining Manulife, Anthony was the Head of IT and Operations Performance and Planning of QBE Emerging Markets. Prior to that Anthony came from a strategy and IT consulting background working with Capgemini and Ernst & Young.

Anthony is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of Monash University in Victoria, Australia and has a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering from the same university.

Janette Peña is an Independent Director of the Company and of its affiliates, Manulife Financial Plans, Inc., and Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corp. She was first elected as Independent Director of the Company in 2007. She is also the Chair of the Audit Committee of the Company. Prior to her present roles, Janette was a Senior Partner at Ponce Enrile Reyes Manalastas Law Offices (1985-2003); Director and Corporate Secretary of Pancake House Group of Companies (2000-2014) and Bousted Technologies (2004-2013); and Corporate Secretary of Salcon Holdings (2003-2009), Del Monte Philippines, and Philippine Plaza Holdings (1995-2003). Janette holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines and Master of Laws from Harvard Law School.

Conrado Favorito is an Independent Director of Manulife Philippines, Manulife Financial Plans, Inc., and Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corp. He was first elected as director of the Company in April 2018.

He is currently the CEO-President and Chief Consultant of his company, Mr. Fave Management Training & Consulting Services. He acts as his company’s Management Consultant, TQM & ISO 9001 Adviser, Keynote Speaker, Trainer for Webinars and Seminars, and Book Editor. Likewise, he serves as a consultant/ adviser of Inkwell Publishing Co., Inc., VFP Business Support Services, Inc., and Blue Macay Food Manufacturing Group. He is also an accredited speaker/ trainer/ consultant of South East Asia Speakers & Trainers Bureau Inc., Ariva Academy, and SMESoft.

Conrad holds a Pre-Divinity/Philosophy degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and a Master in Business Management degree from the Asian Institute of Management. 

Maria Theresa Quirino is an Independent Director of Manulife Philippines, Manulife Financial Plans, Inc., and Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corp. She was first elected as director of the Company in December 2023. 

Tere has over 35 years of work experience in public financial management reforms and banking operations (asset and liability management, treasury and treasury operations, and risk management). She has worked for 10 years with the various projects of multilateral and bilateral agencies (Asian Development Bank, DFAT/Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade by the Australian Government and USAID) as consultant/adviser on various government reforms in the areas of budget and treasury management, public debt management, tax administration, procurement, and domestic resource mobilization. 

Prior to this, Tere worked with the Development Bank of the Philippines for over 15 years, last holding the position of Senior Executive Vice President and Treasurer/CFO.   

Tere holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and is a Certified Public Accountant.