2006 News Releases

Boston– Jim Brockelman has been appointed Executive Vice President of National Sales for John Hancock Retirement Plan Services (JHRPS) (formerly Manulife U. S. Group Pensions), it was announced by Katherine MacMillan, President, JHRPS. The appointment is effective immediately and Brockelman will report to MacMillan.

As head of National Sales, Brockelman will be responsible for the overall sales leadership of JHRPS. He is replacing Peter Gordon, who has become the President of John Hancock Financial Network,* the career agency and brokerage arm of John Hancock. Prior to becoming Executive Vice President of National Sales, Brockelman had served as Senior Vice President, Intermediary Services for JHRPS, coordinating all retirement plan sales activity with the company’s intermediary sales channel.

“I am very pleased Jim will be taking on this role,” said MacMillan. “His experience working with our partners, in addition to his tremendous depth of knowledge and able leadership, will be a driving force as we continue to expand our position as an industry leader in the retirement plan business.”

Brockelman joined Manulife in 2002 as National Sales Manager for the company’s Managed Account business. Prior to his career with John Hancock and Manulife, Jim worked at Putnam Investments and during his 15-year tenure held several executive roles in Putnam’s mid-market defined contribution business, including National Sales Manager.

Brockelman earned his BA from Washington and Lee University.

About John Hancock Retirement Plan Services
Amongst mutual fund, life insurance companies and banks, JHRPS is ranked as the #1 provider to 401(k)s based on number of 401(k) plans managed, according CFO Magazine. (2006 CFO Magazine 401(k) Buyers Guide Study, published June 2006.)

About John Hancock and Manulife Financial
John Hancock is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation (the Company), a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily through John Hancock in the United States, the Company 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$370 billion (US$332 billion) as at June 30, 2006.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ‘MFC’ on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under ‘0945’ on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.

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 whole life, term life, variable life, and universal life insurance, as well as college savings products, fixed and variable annuities, long-term care insurance, mutual funds and various forms of business insurance.

Insurance products are issued by the following John Hancock insurance companies: John Hancock Life Insurance Company, John Hancock Variable Life Insurance Company,** John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.)** and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York.

*John Hancock Financial Network is the servicemark of John Hancock Life Insurance Company and its affiliated companies.

**Not licensed in New York

SOURCE: John Hancock Retirement Plan Services

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Contact:
Laurie Lupton
(416) 852-7792
Melissa Berczuk
(617) 663-4750