Manulife Financial Corp. (TSX:MFC) and The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company said Thursday that Tom Jenkins, has been appointed to their board of directors, effective March 1.

Jenkins is the chairman of OpenText Corp. and has served as a member of its board since 1994. He also served as president and CEO of OpenText from 1994 to 2005. Jenkins is a member of the board of Thomson Reuters Inc. and of TransAlta Corp. He is also an executive fellow at the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, a director of the C.D. Howe Institute, appointed member of the National Research Council of Canada and director of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.

“Tom has a great deal of experience as a chief executive and corporate director,” said Richard DeWolfe, chairman of the board, Manulife. “His more than 30 years in technology innovation and economic development in both the private and public sectors will be invaluable to Manulife’s Board.”

Jenkins was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada (OC) in 2011 for his contributions to education and innovation in Canada, the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) in 2013 and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (QDJM).