Dominic D'Alessandro Named Ivey Business Leader of the Year

TORONTO - Dominic D'Alessandro, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Financial will receive this year's Ivey Business Leader Award at a gala dinner on October 8, 2008.

Mr. D'Alessandro's accomplishments in the Canadian business scene and around the world are well known. Since becoming CEO of Manulife Financial in 1994, Mr. D'Alessandro has propelled the financial services company to its fourteenth consecutive year of record financial performance, resulting in Manulife being among the most profitable life insurance companies in North America. He led the successful demutualization and conversion of Manulife to public company status in 1999, setting the stage for Manulife to become a world leader in financial services.

Nowhere was his business acumen and deal-making expertise more apparent than in the 2004 acquisition of John Hancock Financial Services by Manulife, the largest cross-border transaction in Canadian history at the time. The merger created the second largest life insurance company in North America and the fourth largest in the world at the time.

Created in 1991 by the Ivey Alumni Association/Toronto Chapter, the Ivey Business Leader Award honours individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to the advancement of business in Canada, and reflect the ideals of the Richard Ivey School of Business.

"It gives me great pleasure to celebrate Dominic's exceptional leadership with this award. His role in managing the successful completion of the merger with John Hancock Financial Services is exemplary of his cross-enterprise leadership," said Carol Stephenson, Dean, Richard Ivey School of Business. "Dominic has been a strong voice in encouraging Canadian companies to take bold action such that they grow into global leaders in their fields."

Being a good corporate citizen is an integral part of Mr. D'Alessandro's convictions. Corporate gifts and sponsorships to Manulife's communities have increased significantly during his tenure. Mr. D'Alessandro is personally involved in giving back and served as Campaign Chair for the Salvation Army capital campaign. He has also served as the Campaign Chair for the Greater Toronto United Way Campaign in 1998 and as a Co-chairman of the Corporate Fund for Breast Cancer Research Campaign in 1996. Currently he co-chairs the Montreal Neurological Institute's fundraising campaign, a five-year, $40-?million initiative to invest in people and expand facilities and services.

As well as other awards, Mr. D'Alessandro was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2003 and was named Canada's Most Respected CEO for 2004 and Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year in 2002 by his peers for his contribution to business and the community. In November 2006, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper named Mr. D'Alessandro to the Advisory Committee on the Public Service of Canada, and in June 2006 appointed him to NAFTA's North American Competitiveness Council.

"I am extremely pleased to honour Dominic D'Alessandro's visionary leadership in building a company that has helped make Canada a global competitor. At a time when many Canadian organizations are being sold to foreign companies, he has helped create a robust international company that will help our economy remain strong well into the future," said Tim Hockey, Group Head Personal Banking and Co-Chair TD Canada Trust, TD Bank Financial Group and Co-Chair of the Ivey Business Leader Award Committee.

Dominic D'Alessandro joins an esteemed list of past Ivey Business Leader Award recipients demonstrating leadership in both business and their communities. Past recipients of the award include:

- 2007 - Claude Lamoureux, President & CEO and Robert Bertram, Executive Vice-President, Investments, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
- 2006 - Isadore Sharp, Chairman and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels Inc.
- 2005 - Peter Godsoe, former Chairman and CEO, The Bank of Nova Scotia
- 2002 - Gwyn Morgan, President and CEO, EnCana Corporation
- 2001 - Harrison McCain, Chairman, McCain Foods Limited, and G. Wallace McCain, Chairman, Maple Leaf Foods Inc.
- 2000 - Purdy Crawford, Chairman, AT&T Canada; former Chairman Imasco and Canada Trust
- 1999 - Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, led by Prem Watsa, Chairman
- 1998 - Paul Desmarais, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Power Corporation of Canada
- 1997 - Frank Stronach, Chairman of the Board, Magna International Inc. - 1996 - Jean C. Monty, President and CEO, Northern Telecom Limited
- 1995 - R. Jack Lawrence, Deputy Chairman, Nesbitt Burns Inc.
- 1994 - Robert Nourse, President and CEO, The Bombay Company Inc.
- 1993 - Cedric E. Ritchie, Chairman, The Bank of Nova Scotia
- 1992 - John C. Carroll, President and CEO, Molson Breweries
- 1991 - John M. Thompson, Chairman and CEO, IBM Canada Limited

The Ivey Business Leader Award, co-chaired by Tim Hockey and Mary Whittle, Director WW Distribution Development, Motorola Inc., will be presented at a black tie dinner at Toronto's Four Seasons Hotel. Proceeds from the event support the Ivey Alumni Association Toronto Chapter HBA and MBA Scholarships established to attract top students to the School.