Warren Thomson, chief investment officer and chairman of global wealth and asset management of Toronto-based Manulife Financial Corp., has decided to retire, the company announced Wednesday.
Thomson’s tenure at Manulife was “marked by his focus on finding attractive growth opportunities with appropriate risk profiles. His innovative approach, coupled with a forward-looking view of clients’ needs, helped make Manulife an international leader,” the company says in a statement.
Thomson, whose retirement is effective Feb. 28, 2019, led programs to derisk the company’s equity and interest-rate risk exposures during the global financial crisis. He also oversaw the establishment and growth of Manulife Asset Management, where assets under management grew to $516 billion from $94 billion between 2006 and June 2018.
Paul Lorentz, who currently reports to Thomson with responsibility for Manulife’s global wealth and asset management business, has been promoted to the role of president and CEO, global wealth and asset management.
Scott Hartz has been promoted to the role of chief investment officer (CIO) . Hartz currently serves as head of general account investments for Manulife, overseeing all U.S., Canadian and Asian general account investments. Hartz is also the CIO for Boston-based John Hancock Life Insurance Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Manulife.
Lorentz and Hartz will assume their new responsibilities Mar. 1, 2019.
Manulife also announced the appointment of Pamela Kimmet as chief human resources officer.
Before joining Manulife, Kimmet was the chief human resources officer of Cardinal Health, a healthcare services and products company. Previous to that, she led the HR function at a number of multinational organizations, including Coca-Cola Enterprises, Bear Stearns & Co. and Lucent Technologies.
“Building a high-performing team and culture is one of our five strategic priorities as we transform our company into a digital, customer-centric market leader,” Roy Gori, Manulife president and CEO, says in a statement. “Pam joins us at a critical time in our history, and her expertise in talent development and organizational change will be of great value as we work to achieve our bold people and culture ambitions.”
Kimmet’s appointment is effective Oct. 1.