The investment management arm of Manulife has announced the appointment of a chief investment officer for emerging market equities.

Manulife Investment Management has appointed Charlie Dutton as chief investment officer (CIO), global emerging market equities, according to a statement.

In the newly created role, he will oversee and align the firm's Asia ex-Japan and emerging market equity capabilities. He will continue to be based in London while ensuring connections between the investment teams in the British hub and Asia. In the coming months, he will spend a considerable amount of time in Asia with the investment teams across the region.

Dutton has over 27 years of investment experience, including more than 25 years of Asia equity experience. Prior to joining Manulife earlier this year, he was working at Ninety One as a fund manager in its global quality capability team that managed assets across five strategies. Previously, he was a founding partner at Asian investment firm Coupland Cardiff and also worked at J.P. Morgan, JF Securities and HSBC.

Departing Executives

In addition, Kathryn Langridge, senior managing director, senior portfolio manager, and head of emerging markets equity team, is retiring on 31 October 2025 after a 40-year investment career.

Ronald Chan, CIO, Asia ex-Japan equity, is also leaving Manulife Investment Management.

Asia Team

Manulife Investment Management currently manages over $25 billion in assets under management across its Asia and emerging market equities strategies. Within Asia, it has an equity team with over 90 professionals located in 10 markets.

«The closer alignment of the Asia equity team with the global Emerging Markets equity organization formalizes the longstanding sharing of ideas and insights between our Asia and our emerging markets equity teams,» commented Colin Purdie, global CIO, public markets, Manulife Investment Management.

«We believe this alignment will translate into improved research sharing and investment decision-making, and will enhance our ability to create custom-tailored solutions to meet client needs.»