Manulife Philippines announced the appointment of Sailesh Nalinakshan as the company’s new chief agency officer (CAO) and Grace Mallabo as new chief health and product officer (CHPO).
Sailesh Nalinakshan, as CAO, expands his previous role as Manulife Philippines’ head of agency transformation and strategy, where he led the development and execution of the company’s new agency operating model. In his new role, he will continue empowering Manulife’s thousands-strong agency force, anchored on strategies that bolster initiatives on digitalization, sales and productivity, talent recruitment and development, training and data analytics-based planning and decision-making.
Prior to joining the Philippine leadership team, Nalinakshan was based in Hong Kong as part of Manulife’s Asia distribution team.
“We are happy to welcome Sailesh as he brings his extensive experience in distribution management into his new role, leading our Philippines agency team and bringing our distribution network to the next level,” said Rahul Hora, president and chief executive of Manulife Philippines.
“As depth, expansion, and quality continue to be key enablers for our bigger and bolder growth ambitions, his strategic vision and leadership will play a pivotal role in strengthening our agency distribution channels and driving our growth trajectory for years ahead,” Hora said.
Meanwhile, Grace Mallabo will spearhead Manulife Philippines’ health strategy, product development and management, and in-force management to help meet the growing demand among Filipinos for life insurance solutions that can support their health and wellness journey, while providing them protection and financial security in the future.
With Mallabo at the helm, Manulife Philippines aims to create more innovative, accessible and relevant products and maximize customer lifetime value through effective in-force management and product innovations that are tailor-fit to Filipinos’ evolving behavior and priorities. Prior to joining Manulife, she had nearly two decades of professional experience in the insurance industry, with a strong track record in strategy, product management, and health business leadership.
“Grace’s leadership will be crucial in driving Manulife Philippines’ goals to bridge the country’s protection gap. Given her vast experience developing innovative life and health solutions that can help enrich people’s lives, we are excited to welcome her to our growing winning team as we deliver on our goals for our customers and the communities we serve,” said Hora.