People Moves
Manulife Builds Singapore As Its ASEAN Hub, Announces Key Appointments
Manulife Asset Management is taking initiatives to build its Singapore business in a bid to make the city-state its complementary hub for regional operations.
In recognition of its fifth year in Singapore, Manulife is adding investment resources in its fixed income and equity desks, as well as key regional business development and relationship management functions.
Endre Pederson, fixed income portfolio manager for Asia, moved from Hong Kong to Singapore in July 2012 to establish the latter's role in building out its ASEAN strategy. Pedersen is the head of the firm's Asian multi-currency fixed income strategy, which is available in a number of markets, including Singapore, Canada, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Taiwan.
Manulife has also added to its equity capabilities in Singapore, appointing India equity specialist Rana Gupta as senior portfolio manager in July 2012. Gupta is now responsible for the research, analysis and coverage of Indian equities.
Both Pedersen and Gupta report to Jill Smith, senior managing director for Manulife Asset Management in Singapore. They are also members of the company's network of Asian fixed income and equity investment professionals worldwide, overseen by Yu-King Wang as head of fixed income, Asia and Ronald CC Chan as head of equities, Asia.
Also newly appointed is Lawrence Wee as head of institutional sales for South Asia to help build the company's client and consultancy relationship management and servicing division.
"Investing in Asia is a local contact sport where on-the-ground presence is key to gaining a real time information advantage. Having additional professionals based in Singapore will facilitate on-the-ground development of strong relationships with central banks and policy officials in ASEAN and among the broker community in these markets,” said Michael Dommermuth, president of Asia, in a statement.
Manulife Asset Management established its commitment to growing in Singapore when moved the regional head of legal and compliance role to the city-state with the hire of Paul Lantz in 2010.
