I grew up outside of Boston and have lived in Massachusetts most of my life. Johnny Most, broadcaster for the Boston Celtics for 40 years, coached my Pop Warner football team. He focused us on teamwork, leadership and loyalty. Later, I captained my high school football team.

I caddied throughout high school and while attending Boston College where I earned a bachelors degree in accounting. I was appointed Caddy Master, and I still look back on the lessons I learned from that job. I worked with people who were seasoned and successful, and I learned about hard work and customer service while having fun.

After college, I joined Coopers & Lybrand, which is now PricewaterhouseCoopers, as an auditor. In the early 1980s the job market was similar to today's. Many college graduates couldn't find jobs. My clients were split between financial services companies and high-tech companies, many of which don't exist anymore. Our firm had a pyramid structure, where there was a partner at the top and a team below. I worked with customers who had a variety of business models and management styles. Some companies were well-run. Others were struggling. It provided a valuable learning experience about management and at the same time I was acquiring a deep financial background.

Ultimately, I decided I wanted to run a business, so I left the accounting field in 1992 and became CFO for North American Security Life, a small insurance firm that was the U.S. subsidiary of a Canadian operation. It was entrepreneurial, which is what I was looking for. I wanted to work in all areas of the company and I did, with assignments in the systems area, customer service, sales and marketing and product development.

When Manulife acquired our parent company, I first ran the U.S. variable annuity business, and then managed the common investment platform that used a host of sub-advisors. In 2004, Manulife acquired John Hancock. First I ran the wealth management business, which included variable annuities, mutual funds, 401(k)s and fixed annuities. In 2005, I became head of the insurance division. And in May 2009 I was promoted to my current position.

In my free time I'm busy with my three kids and their sports. I used to coach them until they surpassed my skill level. Everyone in my family plays golf. I have a nine handicap. My oldest son's is even lower; and my younger brother, who is CFO of TD Bank, has one that's better than all of ours.

As told to Pat Olsen.