Board of Directors
Manulife Holdings Berhad

Ms. Vibha Coburn was formerly the Chief Distribution Officer at Manulife Asia, responsible for developing and executing strategy for Manulife distribution across Asia, including championing the adoption of digital channels. Under her leadership, Manulife’s agency force grew significantly and became the world’s third best amongst international insurers in terms of Million Dollar Round Table membership. At the same time, she has helped to vastly strengthen Manulife’s bancassurance capabilities, delivering strong growth to its regional partnerships and, renewing and establishing new partnerships in Vietnam, Indonesia and Myanmar. She has also championed the development and adoption of digital tools throughout all channels in distribution.

Prior to joining Manulife, Ms. Vibha Coburn had a wide range of senior roles over thirty (30) years in banking, insurance and management consulting across Asia, Europe and Australia. These included roles in e-business, sales, customer acquisition, finance, wealth management, liabilities, mortgages and credit cards.

Ms. Vibha Coburn also sits on the Boards of Manulife Insurance Berhad (“MIB”) and Manulife Investment Management (M) Berhad (“MIMMB”), L.I.A.M. Holding Sdn. Bhd. and L.I.A.M. Property Sdn. Bhd. Both MIB and MIMMB are the wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. 

Mr. Matthew Lawrence has over twenty (20) years of experience in the insurance industry, holding leadership positions in both the corporate and professional services fields that span across North America, Europe and Asia. He joined Manulife as Regional Controller, Asia in year 2019. In this role, he is responsible for the Asia regional finance team, overseeing financial planning and analysis, management reporting, expense management and accounting policy.

Prior to joining Manulife, Mr. Matthew Lawrence worked at Prudential where he held a series of progressive roles; his last held position was Finance Director of Prudential Assurance Company Singapore, where he was responsible for strategic planning and analysis, financial reporting, finance operations, and finance innovation. Prior to his time with Prudential, he spent many years at KPMG and has experience that covers accounting advisory, audit, and transaction services. He speaks frequently at industry events on the subject of accounting change for insurance.

Mr. Matthew Lawrence is a member of the Group Audit Committee, Group Risk Management Committee and Group Nominating/Remuneration Committee of the Company. 

Mrs. Vijayam Nadarajah was the president of the IIAM from year 1996 to year 1997 and was then re-appointed as a governor to the Board of Governors of IIAM in year 2018. She co-chaired the taskforce on Guidance for Effective Internal Audit Function. Mrs. Vijayam Nadarajah was the Independent Non-Executive Director of The Bank of Nova Scotia Berhad and MPI Generali Insurans Berhad. Prior to her appointment to the Board of The Bank of Nova Scotia Berhad, she was a consultant for China Construction Bank Malaysia Berhad on matters related to licensing of the bank and operational readiness audit. From year 2013 to year 2016, Mrs. Vijayam Nadarajah served as a Specialist for the Research and Development/Corporate Program of the Financial Accreditation Agency, which is an initiative supported by Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission Malaysia. She also served as Financial Controller at CIMB Aviva Assurance Berhad and CIMB Aviva Takaful Berhad, Assistant General Manager of Finance at Oriental Capital Assurance Berhad, as well as senior roles in RHB Bank Berhad and Sime Bank Berhad/UMBC Bank Berhad.

Mrs. Vijayam Nadarajah presently sits on the Boards of BNP Paribas Malaysia Berhad and Monash University Malaysia Sdn Bhd. She is a consultant and trainer in topics such as risk management, compliance, internal audit and board governance.

Mrs. Vijayam Nadarajah is the Chairman of the Group Risk Management Committee and is a member of the Group Audit Committee and Group Nominating/Remuneration Committee of the Company. She is also a Director and Chairman of the Risk Management Committee, and a member of the Audit Committee and Nominating/Remuneration Committee of Manulife Insurance Berhad, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.