Based in Hong Kong, Gori will report directly to the firm's president and CEO, Donald Guloien, and will become a member of the executive committee. 

He succeeds Robert Cook, who is retiring after a 36-year career at Manulife - the last seven of which he spent as head of Asia.

In his most recent role at Citi, Gori was head of consumer banking for North Asia and Australia, as well as regional head of retail banking for Asia-Pacific, which included responsibility for Citi's insurance and wealth management businesses.

Manulife has operated in Asia since 1897, and today operates in 12 territories: Hong Kong, Macau, China, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Manulife operates as John Hancock in the US and as Manulife in other parts of the world.

Funds under management by Manulife and its subsidiaries were approximately C$663 billion as at September 30, 2014.