Manulife Financial Corp. (TSX:MFC) and The Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. announced Friday that Jim Prieur has been appointed to their boards of directors, effective January 1. He will sit on the risk committee.

Prieur brings extensive financial and insurance industry experience to Manulife’s Boards. He served as CEO of CNO Financial Group, Inc., a life insurance holding company focused on the senior middle income market in the United States, from 2006 until his retirement in 2011.

Prior to joining CNO, Prieur was president and chief operating officer of a Sun Life Financial Inc. where he had previously led operations in Asia, Canada, the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

“We are delighted to welcome Jim Prieur to our voard,” said Manulife chairwoman Gail Cook-Bennett.”Jim’s deep knowledge of insurance products in Asia and North America, investing expertise and executive experience will be of great benefit to the board.”

A Chartered Financial Analyst, Prieur graduated from Royal Military College before going on to receive his Master of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School at Western University. He is a member of the President’s Circle of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and a member of The Pacific Council on International Policy and its China committee.