Manulife IM Adds Asia Fixed Income Duo

Manulife Investment Management bolsters its Hong Kong unit with the hire of two Asia fixed income specialists. 

Isaac Meng joins the firm as a managing director and portfolio manager for fixed income, according to a statement, reporting to senior managing director and senior portfolio manager for Asia fixed income Paula Chan.

Based in Hong Kong, Meng is responsible for managing Manulife Investment Management’s (Manulife IM) China bond strategies. 

Meng has 25 years of experience, most recently at PIMCO Asia where he was a senior vice president, portfolio manager and macro strategist. Previously, he also worked for BNP Paribas Securities Asia, Bank of Montreal and Bank of China.

Greater China Fixed Income Research

Manulife IM also hired Judy Kwok as head of Greater China fixed income research, reporting to head of global emerging markets fixed income research Fiona Cheung.

Also based in Hong Kong, Cheung will lead the firm’s Greater China fixed income research efforts, manage Greater China credit teams and oversee fixed income research activities in Greater China and North Asia. She will also lead efforts to drive future collaboration and integration with Chinese joint venture Manulife-TEDA.

Cheung joins from Bank of Singapore where she was a director of fixed income research, Previously, she also worked for Fidelity International and First State Investments in senior research roles.

Manulife IM manages $5.7 billion of dedicated China bond assets as of June 30 this year, according to the firm.