David F. D'Alessandro

David F. D’Alessandro (born January 6, 1951, Utica, New York) is a former Fortune 200 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the author of three best-selling business books. While rising through the ranks and serving as chairman and CEO of John Hancock Financial Services, he guided the company through a period of diversification, growth, and transformation from a private mutual company to a major public corporation.

He began his career at a public relations firm, Daniel J. Edelman. From 1974–1984 he was a marketing executive at Control Data Corporation.

In 1984, D’Alessandro was hired by Boston-based John Hancock Financial Services to modernize the firm's image. Among the initiatives he launched was an advertising campaign, “Real Life, Real Answers,” which won numerous awards, including a CLIO and the Cannes Film Festival Best Commercial award. He also expanded the company's brand-building efforts into national and international sports marketing. He is credited with saving and modernizing the iconic Boston Marathon. In 1999, The New York Times named John Hancock one of the 100 “most powerful” brands of the 20th century.

Beginning in 1987, D’Alessandro was given responsibility for an increasing number of John Hancock's primary business lines. Named President and COO in 1998, he became the lead strategist of the firm's demutualization and conversion to a public company. The resulting IPO share price in 2000 was the highest price-to-book ratio of any US life insurance IPO.

In 2000, D’Alessandro was named chairman and CEO of John Hancock. Under his leadership for the next five years, the firm became a diversified financial services company with record earnings, revenue and return on investment. D’Alessandro then spearheaded a 2004 merger with Canadian-based Manulife Financial Corporation. During his term as CEO, the company's stock price rose 157% from the IPO to the merger close. Upon completion of the merger, D’Alessandro became president and COO of Manulife. He announced his retirement from Manulife in June.

He was awarded an honorary doctorate of law degree from Syracuse University and honorary doctorate degrees from Bentley University and Newbury College. In 2009, the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations awarded him an Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

D’Alessandro graduated from Proctor High School in Utica in the class of 1968. He then attended Utica College of Syracuse University, receiving a dual degree in public affairs and journalism in 1972.

D’Alessandro was chairman of the board of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.(2010-17) Mr. D'Alessandro is a board member of Blackstone companies, Vivint and Vivint Solar. He is CEO of DFD Enterprises which invests in a variety of companies. He advises civic, business and community organizations and is a guest speaker on a wide series of topics. He was a member of the Boston University Board of Trustees and led its presidential search. He also led the city of Boston's search for its police commissioner. A former partner in the Boston Red Sox ownership group, he was appointed by Major League Baseball to the Commissioner's Special Task Force on Baseball in the 21st century. In 2009, Governor Deval Patrick selected him to lead an independent review of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority. In 2006 D'Alessandro became a restaurateur purchasing and revitalizing Beacon Hill's Toscano, an iconic Northern Italian restaurant, Toscano. In 2013 Toscano expanded with a new location in historic Harvard Square.

David D’Alessandro has been named among the country's best new CEOs by Money Magazine, Fortune and Worth; as Marketer of the Year by Adweek and as one the ”100 Most Powerful People in Sports” for nine consecutive years by Sporting News.

David D’Alessandro has authored three business books. All of them have been national best sellers in the New York Times, Business Week or The Wall Street Journal. They have been published in multiple languages.