Manulife’s Gori Seized Retirement Before Anyone Asked Him to Go

Manulife Financial Corp.’s Chief Executive Officer Roy Gori, who surprised some investors with an earlier-than-expected retirement announcement this week, says he never wanted to stay in the job so long that people started wondering why he just wouldn’t leave.

Australian-born Gori, 56, who has led the Toronto-based insurer and asset manager since 2017, said in an interview Thursday he looked to the famous Indian cricketer Vijay Merchant for inspiration on this front.

“He once said, ‘Retire when they ask you, Why?, not Why not?’” Gori said. “I’m humbly hoping that more people are asking ‘Why?’ for ...