Dominic Alessandro
Mr. Dominic Alessandro also Co-Chairs the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council. He serves as a Co-chair of the Montreal Neurological Institute's fundraising campaign to invest in people and expand facilities and services. Mr. D'Alessandro served as the Campaign Chairman at the Salvation Army, Ontario Central Division's first Capital Campaign. He also served as the Campaign Chair for the Greater Toronto United Way Campaign since 1998 and also Co-chairman of the Corporate Fund for Breast Cancer Research Campaign since 1996. 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 North American Free Trade Agreement's North American Competitiveness Council. In July 2008, he inducted into the International Insurance Society Hall of Fame. He received the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award from the University of Manitoba in June 2007.
As well as receiving numerous other awards, Mr. Dominic Alessandro was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in August 2003. He was named ‘Canada’s Most Respected CEO’ for 2004 and ‘Canada’s Outstanding CEO of the Year 2002’ by his peers for his contribution to business and the community. He is recipient of a 2005 Horatio Alger Award, and has also received a Special Lifetime Management Achievement Award from McGill University in February 2005, Concordia University’s Loyola Medal in May 2004, the University of Toronto’s Arbour Award in September 1999, and an Honourary Doctorate from Concordia University in June 1998. Mr. D’Alessandro was also made a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1993.
Mr. Dominic Alessandro led the company through a number of transformative acquisitions, including Confederation Life’s Group Operations in 1994, and the amalgamation with North American Life Assurance Company in 1996. In 1996 Manulife achieved a long term goal of re-entry to the People’s Republic of China with the formation of Manulife – Sinochem the first joint venture company to be licensed in China. Re-entry to Japan was achieved in 1999 through an initial joint venture with Daihyaku Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Now one of Canada's most prominent business leaders, Dominic Alessandro has served as president and CEO of Manulife Financial since 1994, and is credited with making it Canada's largest public company. He has led the company to consecutive years of record financial performance, resulting in Manulife being among the most profitable life insurance companies in North America.
From Saudi Arabia, D'Alessandro was relocated to San Francisco as a vice president in Genstar's construction materials group. D'Alessandro left Genstar in 1981 and joined what was then one of the largest banks in the world, the Royal Bank of Canada. He started as an assistant controller and within five years became their CFO and an executive vice president at the age of 37. In 1988, he was appointed president and CEO of the Laurentian Bank. Even though the Laurentian was a relatively small bank, D'Alessandro went on to briefly become Canada's top-paid banker.
Mr. Dominic Alessandro also Co-Chairs the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council. He serves as a Co-chair of the Montreal Neurological Institute's fundraising campaign to invest in people and expand facilities and services. Mr. D'Alessandro served as the Campaign Chairman at the Salvation Army, Ontario Central Division's first Capital Campaign. He also served as the Campaign Chair for the Greater Toronto United Way Campaign since 1998 and also Co-chairman of the Corporate Fund for Breast Cancer Research Campaign since 1996. 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 North American Free Trade Agreement's North American Competitiveness Council. In July 2008, he inducted into the International Insurance Society Hall of Fame. He received the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award from the University of Manitoba in June 2007.
As well as receiving numerous other awards, Mr. Dominic Alessandro was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in August 2003. He was named ‘Canada’s Most Respected CEO’ for 2004 and ‘Canada’s Outstanding CEO of the Year 2002’ by his peers for his contribution to business and the community. He is recipient of a 2005 Horatio Alger Award, and has also received a Special Lifetime Management Achievement Award from McGill University in February 2005, Concordia University’s Loyola Medal in May 2004, the University of Toronto’s Arbour Award in September 1999, and an Honourary Doctorate from Concordia University in June 1998. Mr. D’Alessandro was also made a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1993.
Mr. Dominic Alessandro led the company through a number of transformative acquisitions, including Confederation Life’s Group Operations in 1994, and the amalgamation with North American Life Assurance Company in 1996. In 1996 Manulife achieved a long term goal of re-entry to the People’s Republic of China with the formation of Manulife – Sinochem the first joint venture company to be licensed in China. Re-entry to Japan was achieved in 1999 through an initial joint venture with Daihyaku Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Now one of Canada's most prominent business leaders, Dominic Alessandro has served as president and CEO of Manulife Financial since 1994, and is credited with making it Canada's largest public company. He has led the company to consecutive years of record financial performance, resulting in Manulife being among the most profitable life insurance companies in North America.
From Saudi Arabia, D'Alessandro was relocated to San Francisco as a vice president in Genstar's construction materials group. D'Alessandro left Genstar in 1981 and joined what was then one of the largest banks in the world, the Royal Bank of Canada. He started as an assistant controller and within five years became their CFO and an executive vice president at the age of 37. In 1988, he was appointed president and CEO of the Laurentian Bank. Even though the Laurentian was a relatively small bank, D'Alessandro went on to briefly become Canada's top-paid banker.