Manulife Asset Management has appointed Chris Fellingham as senior managing director and head of liquid alternative strategies, a new role designed to help the asset manager increase its presence in this area.
Liquid alternative investments generally give investors access to the returns available through alternative investments, such as private equity or limited partnerships, but with lower investing thresholds and increased liquidity.
The appointment is effective June 13 and Fellingham, who will be based in London, U.K., will report to Chris Conkey, executive vice president and global chief investment officer (CIO) of Manulife Asset Management, the investment management arm of Toronto-based Manulife Financial Corp.
“[Fellingham] brings significant expertise in liquid alternative investment strategies, a strong client-focus and decades of global asset management experience. We created this new role to drive our growth strategy in liquid alternatives,” says Conkey in a statement on Thursday. “Chris will play a significant role leading the expansion of our range of absolute return and outcome oriented capabilities, including stand-alone and multi-asset class strategy solutions, that we believe will meet the needs of institutional and wealth clients globally.”
Fellingham was most recently CIO of Ignis Asset Management Ltd. in Edinburgh, which is now owned by Standard Life Investments (Holdings) Ltd. He has been in the asset management segment of the financial services industry for more than 20 years.
The addition of Fellingham will help Manulife Asset Management respond to client demand for strategies that can provide outcomes specific to their needs, which will include a “critical” focus on risk management, according to Kai Sotorp, president and CEO of the company.
“Chris will make a strong contribution to developing this sought after and rapidly evolving market segment. Over the course of his career, Chris has successfully devised and delivered on a strategic expansion into liquid alternative strategies,” says Sotorp in a statement. “The franchise Chris will develop will complement our strategic asset allocation business, managed by [Manulife Asset Management’s] portfolio solutions group.” PSG manages traditional target date and target risk strategies, as well as alternatives solutions, overseeing £74 billion (C$135 billion) in AUM, the Manulife statement says.
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