Manulife IM Shuffles Fixed Income Team

Manulife Investment Management has unveiled a raft of changes to its fixed income business which it says “strengthens the global organisation for today and for the years ahead”.

The head of the firm’s global multi-sector fixed income business, Daniel Janis, has announced his plans to retire in March 2023. Christopher Chapman, portfolio manager at Manulife, has been promoted and named co-head of the team with Janis, effective immediately, to help ensure a smooth transition over the next 13 months. Chapman will report to John Addeo, CIO of global fixed income at the firm.

Janis will continue to oversee all portfolio management efforts through the transition in support of the team’s strategies and clients’ agreed-on investment objectives – the plan is for Chapman to take sole responsibility for the team on Janis’ retirement.

Bradley Lutz is also joining the team as portfolio manager, preferred income on March 31, reporting to Chapman – he has spent the past 20 years at John Hancock Investment Management, having joined the firm, coincidentally, from a Manulife affiliate. Additionally Sherri Tilley has joined as client portfolio manager, she moves from Insight Investments, having transitioned with the fixed income team when Insight acquired Mellon Investments’ fixed income strategy team.

Elsewhere, Murray Collis deputy CIO, fixed income, Asia (ex-Japan) has been promoted to CIO, fixed income, Asia (ex-Japan), assuming oversight of the Asia ex-Japan franchise from Endre Pedersen, deputy CIO, global fixed income, and CIO, global emerging-market fixed income. Collis will continue to report to Pedersen in this capacity. Alvin Ong, portfolio manager, Singapore fixed income, has been promoted to the role of head of fixed income, Singapore and will continue to report to Collis.

Finally, Manulife has created a global credit team by merging its US high yield and preferred income teams. Caryn Rothman has been promoted to senior portfolio manager and head of the global credit team and will be listed as a portfolio manager across all of the team’s funds effective March 31, 2022. Both Joseph Bozoyan, portfolio manager, preferred income, and Dennis McCafferty, portfolio manager, will now report to Rothman, who will continue to report to Addeo.

“These updates and promotions exhibit the commitment we’ve made to clients to provide the highest level of service through the growth and development of our investment professionals,” says Addeo. “We congratulate Dan on his achievements over his 38-year career in the investment industry and thank him for his work on behalf of Manulife Investment Management and our clients. We have every expectation that the team will continue to build on his significant contributions.

“These announcements reflect both the depth and talent of the investment teams and how the research and trading functions have enhanced the exchange of information and offered insight and perspective from all aspects of the fixed-income and currency markets to contribute to performance outcomes,” he adds.