At a meeting on December 6-8, 2016, John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund Board of Trustees appointed Hassell H. McClellan to serve as the Board's Chair, effective January 1, 2017, succeeding James M. Oates, who will continue to serve as a Trustee. In addition, Fund's Board approved the following changes to the Fund's operating committees stated below, effective January 1, 2017: Compliance Committee: Grace K. Fey joins Compliance Committee as Chair, succeeding McClellan, who is no longer a member of Compliance Committee. William H. Cunningham and Deborah C. Jackson continue to serve as members of Compliance Committee. Contracts, Legal & Risk Committee: Oates joins this Committee and Fey is no longer a member of Contracts, Legal & Risk Committee. Steven R. Pruchansky and Gregory A. Russo (Chair) continue to serve as members of Contracts, Legal & Risk Committee. Investment Committee: Oates joins an Investment Sub-Committee as Chair, succeeding Fey in her role as Chair. Jackson, Charles L. Bardelis, Cunningham, and Theron S. Hoffman continue to serve as Chairpersons of the other Investment Sub-Committees.