Summary of Manulife Financial Fireside Chat - November 19, 2025 Company Overview - **Company**: Manulife Financial (NYSE: MFC) - **New CEO**: Phil Witherington Key Points and Arguments Strategic Refresh - Manulife is undergoing a significant strategic refresh early in the new CEO's tenure, focusing on five priorities, six values, and three enablers, indicating a proactive approach rather than maintaining the status quo [12][15][16] - The leadership team aims to provide clarity on the strategy to avoid strategic ambiguity and to quickly move into execution [14][15] Long-term Vision - The goal is for Manulife to become the leading global life insurer and asset management company, not just in Canada but worldwide, with a focus on major economies like the US, China, and India [25][26] - The strategy emphasizes balanced growth across the portfolio while maintaining a disciplined risk appetite [26] M&A and Organic Growth - While there is an appetite for inorganic growth, as demonstrated by the Comvest acquisition, the focus remains on organic investments, which historically yield better returns [28][30] - The company plans to leverage its strong brand and capabilities to create competitive advantages in the market [30] Entry into India - Manulife has a long-term ambition to re-enter the Indian insurance market, facilitated by recent regulatory changes allowing greater foreign ownership [33][34] - A joint venture with Mahindra is planned, combining local market knowledge with Manulife's insurance expertise [35][36] Japan Market - Japan remains a key market for Manulife, with opportunities in both insurance and asset management, driven by demographic changes and economic growth [43][44] - The focus will be on organic growth rather than acquisitions in Japan [50] Focus on Canada - Canada is viewed as a critical market for growth, with plans to enhance digital experiences and leverage existing capabilities across insurance and wealth management [80][81] - Manulife aims to sustain and grow its leadership position in Canada by embedding successful strategies from other markets [80] AI Integration - Manulife is committed to becoming an AI-powered organization, with significant investments in AI infrastructure and applications already in operation [87][88] - The company expects to generate approximately $1 billion in benefits from AI between 2025 and 2027, with a focus on enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency [94][95] Financial Performance and Share Buybacks - Manulife has successfully reduced its share count by 4% year-over-year, indicating a commitment to returning value to shareholders [99] - The company aims to balance share buybacks with growth investments, ensuring that capital generation remains strong [72][99] Other Important Insights - The strategic refresh has generated excitement within the organization, with employees eager to embrace new technologies and strategies [57] - The leadership team is focused on long-term sustainable success, ensuring that future management does not look back with regret on missed opportunities [71] - The company is committed to maintaining expense efficiency while pursuing growth, with a target of 45% or less for expense efficiency [73][74]