Manulife IM strengthens multi-asset team
Manulife Investment Management has appointed Jeffrey Kan the newly created role of managing director and senior portfolio manager for asset allocation for Asia, effective 7 April, according to a statement from the firm.
Kan has 17 years of investment experience, most recently with Schroders in Hong Kong, where he managed a number of multi-asset strategies, including Occupational Retirement Schemes Ordinance and Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) portfolios. He also co-managed an absolute return strategy as well as global fixed income portfolios for Asia clients.
Kan also has experience in onshore multi-asset strategies in China, the firm noted.
“His past experience with on-the-ground investment teams and understanding of China will add to our strength in growing our multi-asset capabilities with our joint-venture fund house Manulife TEDA, and our wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE) Manulife Investment Shanghai,” Michael Dommermuth, head of wealth and asset management for Asia at Manulife IM, said in the statement.
Kan’s primary focus will be to further the firm’s multi-asset solutions team’s (MAST) global capabilities into Asia, and most importantly, directly into China, the firm said. He will be the dedicated liaison between MAST and Manulife TEDA and the firm’s WFOE in China, managing the alignment of investment philosophy and processes, and participating in the firm’s work in product development.
As an integral member of the portfolio management team, he will also contribute to investment decision making and portfolio construction considerations across the firm’s range of multi-asset portfolios.
Mirova names proxy voting and engagement lead
Mirova, a Natixis Investment Managers affiliate that specialises in sustainable investing, has appointed Lindsey Apple as its Boston-based proxy voting and engagement lead, according to a press statement.
Apple will collaborate with portfolio managers and management on voting and engagement decisions in the US and in Europe. She will lead the firm’s voting policy as regulations and market practices evolve.
She will also carry out the firm’s voting process during voting season while developing a dialogue with regulators, investors and clients.
Before Mirova, Apple worked at MFS for eight years. In her earlier career, she was an attorney at Kerbey Harrington Pinkard. She has also provided legal counsel for the formation of non-profit green startup corporations at Green Pro Bono.
FE Fundinfo hires ESG strategist
Data group FE Fundinfo has hired an ESG strategist, as reported by FSA‘s sister publication, ESG Clarity.
Sebastian Brinkmann joins from TruValue Labs, where he most recently held the position of head of ESG solutions for Europe at the San Francisco-headquartered ESG data specialist. In this new role he will work with both new and existing clients on their approaches to ESG including helping them with reporting.
“It’s a very exciting time to be joining FE Fundinfo following the recent acquisition of CSSP and the wider expansion of the ESG offering across the product range,” Brinkmann said.
“ESG investing is entering a new phase with the introduction of greater regulatory obligations and I am looking forward to using my experience and expertise to position ourselves as market leaders.”
David Bower, global head of institutional sales at FE fundinfo, added: “ESG investing and the associated data and reporting are arguably the most important developments underway across the investment industry. Both retail and institutional clients are increasingly demanding sophisticated solutions to meet their needs, alongside regulators who are bringing new rules that will shape investing for decades ahead.
“We are focused on supporting our clients in ESG data provision, analysis and reporting. Sebastian’s appointment is an important step in further strengthening our capabilities, bringing international experience and deep knowledge of ESG investing.”
