Manulife Puts Longevity at the Forefront with Asia Symposium
Manulife has taken a bold step to champion longevity in Asia with its first-ever Longevity Symposium in Singapore, drawing more than 1,000 participants and unveiling an upgraded version of its flagship wellness programme, ManulifeMOVE.
Held at Marina Bay Sands and graced by Minister of State Jasmin Lau, the event brought together healthcare experts, business leaders, financial consultants and customers to address one of Asia’s defining challenges: how to live not just longer, but better.
The symposium follows similar gatherings in Boston by Manulife’s U.S. brand, John Hancock, underscoring the group’s global commitment to the longevity agenda.
Beyond Insurance: Improving Lives
«As an insurer, our role goes far beyond paying claims or managing risks. We have a responsibility to improve lives – not just by protecting our customers, but by empowering them to make better decisions for their health and financial future,» said Benoit Meslet, President and CEO of Manulife Singapore.
The company’s Asia Care survey reveals that only six percent of respondents desire a longer lifespan. The vast majority instead prioritised staying physically, mentally and socially active, maintaining financial independence, and ageing with dignity.
From Vision to Action: Enhanced ManulifeMOVE
A central highlight was the launch of the enhanced ManulifeMOVE. Originally designed to encourage physical activity, the programme now addresses holistic well-being through six pillars: healthcare, home and nursing care, fitness and wellness, lifestyle privileges, legacy planning and community engagement.
The revamped offering introduces a tiered membership structure and expanded services ranging from preventive health checks to cancer care support, well-being coaching, and exclusive community experiences.
«Insurance is no longer just about protecting people financially after something happens. With ManulifeMOVE, we’re giving customers the power to take charge of their health and financial choices,» said Harshal Shah, Chief Marketing & Experience Design Officer, Manulife Asia.
Partnering for Asia’s Ageing Future
The symposium also saw the announcement of ten winners of the «Innovating for Asia’s Demographic Future Challenge», run with the World Economic Forum’s UpLink initiative.
The selected ventures span AI-powered healthcare platforms, wearable rehabilitation tools, digital caregiving solutions and lifelong learning programmes. Three innovators will share a prize pool of 200,000 dollars to help scale their solutions.
«Longevity is reshaping how people across Asia think about their future,» said Steve Finch, President and CEO of Manulife Asia. «Through platforms like the Longevity Symposium and the UpLink challenge, we’re working with partners to deliver practical, preventive solutions that help people live well, for longer.»
Leading with Purpose
For Manulife, the Longevity Symposium represents more than a corporate initiative – it signifies a strategic shift toward prevention, wellness, and purpose-driven partnerships in a region facing profound demographic change.
With Asia ageing faster than much of the world, the insurer is positioning itself as a driver of solutions that extend not only lifespans, but also health spans.
