Professional Affiliation

Chairman of the Board, Manulife Financial Corporation

Expert Bio

Richard DeWolfe is chairman of the board of Manulife Financial Corporation. A member of the board since April 2004, he was elected chairman on May 2, 2013.  He is also a member of the corporate governance and nominating committee.

DeWolfe is also managing partner of DeWolfe & Company, LLC, a real estate investment management firm.  He serves as a trustee emeritus of Boston University and a director of the President’s Council at Massachusetts General Hospital and is a former member of the Wilson Center’s Canada Institute Advisory Board. He is also chairman of the Quissett Harbor Preservation Trust.

DeWolfe was founder, chairman and CEO of the DeWolfe Companies, Inc., the largest homeownership organization in New England, the 10^th largest independent in the United States, started in 1975 with nine employees and a plan for an integrated platform of residential real estate brokerage, corporate relocation services, mortgage banking and insurance sales.  The Company grew to more than 2,000 associates in 105 offices serving five states and involved the completion of more than 80 mergers and acquisitions.  In 1992, the Company completed its IPO and became an American Stock Exchange listed company which was acquired by Cendant Corporation in 2002.

He has served as chairman of the board of trustees, Boston University; was a founder and chairman of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (RELO); member of the advisory board, Fannie Mae; chairman of the Realty Alliance; chairman of the Milton Hospital Foundation; trustee of MBL (Marine Biological Laboratory); director of The Boston Foundation; president of the Boston Minuteman Council, Boy Scouts of America; chairman of the Boston Region of NCCJ.  Other past leadership positions include president of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board and director of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors.

Richard DeWolfe is a 1971 graduate of Boston University and has received the Boston University Distinguished Alumni Award, 2004; Boston University Roger “Moose” Washburn Memorial Award, 2002; Boston University Arthur Stevens Award 1999; Boston University Thomas Fitzpatrick Memorial Award, 1996; Boston University Metropolitan College, Alumni Award for Distinguished Service to the Profession, 1991.  He has been recognized as Greater Boston Realtor of the Year as well as Massachusetts Realtor of the Year and is a member of Omega Tau Rho.  DeWolfe is a Vietnam-era veteran having served in the United States Air Force, Communications Services.  He holds an Executive Masters Professional Director Certification from the American College of Corporate Directors.

Mr. & Mrs. DeWolfe have six children, and seven grandchildren.