Manulife Appoints Sinéad O'Connor as Chief Actuary
News related to:Manulife Financial Corporation · 2 min read
TORONTO, Oct. 8, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Manulife, a leading international financial services provider, has appointed Sinéad O'Connor as Chief Actuary, effective October 12, 2026. O'Connor will report to Phil Witherington, President and Chief Executive Officer, and join Manulife's Executive Leadership Team.
O'Connor brings a wealth of experience to her new role. She joined Manulife in 2007 and has held several key positions within the company, including Global Head of Inforce Management, Deputy Chief Actuary, Head of Group Actuarial, US IFRS Chief Actuary, and leadership roles in Annuities, Long Term Care, and Finance. Her expertise spans actuarial reporting, capital management, reinsurance strategy, risk management, inforce optimization, operational transformation, and enterprise performance.
O'Connor is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries UK (FIA) and a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries USA (FSA), and she is working toward obtaining her Canadian FCIA accreditation. Until O'Connor completes the Canadian accreditation, Manulife's Derek Houle will serve as Appointed Actuary. Manulife will appoint a new Global Head of Inforce Management in due course.
At the end of 2025, Manulife had more than 37,000 employees, over 106,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 37 million customers with operations across 25 markets globally. The company trades as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and Philippine stock exchanges, and under '945' on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions.
O'Connor's appointment follows the passing of Stephanie Fadous, who had previously held the role of Chief Actuary. Fadous passed away suddenly last month, and her legacy will be honored as Manulife transitions to a new leadership structure.
Manulife Financial Corporation is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, and operates as Manulife across Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, providing financial advice, insurance, and health solutions for individuals, groups, and businesses. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, the company offers global investment solutions, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2025, Manulife had more than 37,000 employees, over 106,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 37 million customers with operations across 25 markets globally. The company trades as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and Philippine stock exchanges, and under '945' on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions.