Manulife has appointed Mike Coyne as its new general counsel, effective September 1, 2025, adding further momentum to a series of senior leadership transitions at the insurer.
He will join Manulife’s Executive Leadership Team and report to President and CEO Phil Witherington.
Coyne brings decades of experience from major financial institutions. Most recently, he was a senior fellow and litigation strategy advisor at the Bank Policy Institute, a policy think tank.
Prior to that, he was general counsel and senior legal officer for the Americas at Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), where he also served as an executive officer of the Tokyo-based firm and its commercial bank subsidiary. He also spent more than 20 years at JPMorgan Chase & Co., rising to senior vice president, associate general counsel and global co-head of litigation.
According to Manulife, Coyne’s experience in leading legal teams, navigating complex regulatory challenges and advising with sound judgment made him a strong addition to the executive leadership team. The company added that his global perspective and commitment to an inclusive culture would support Manulife’s future direction.
Coyne, a graduate of Boston College Law School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, succeeds Jim Gallagher, who is retiring this month.
The appointment comes during a period of significant leadership change at Manulife. Earlier this year, Witherington succeeded Roy Gori as president and CEO following Gori’s retirement after eight years in the role. Gori, who guided the insurer through a period of international expansion and digital investment, will continue to advise the company until the end of August.
Manulife has also reshaped its Asia leadership team as part of its strategic focus on the region. Steve Finch, formerly chief actuary, was named president and CEO of Manulife Asia, taking over from Witherington.
Taken together, these moves highlight Manulife’s effort to recalibrate its leadership for both stability and growth. The transition indicates a focus on governance, compliance, and regulatory readiness, alongside expansion in Asia and continued investment in its global operations.
Coyne’s appointment strengthens the executive team at a time when navigating legal and risk environments is increasingly central to insurers’ long-term strategies, the company said.
