Manulife Creates New Role for Head of Real Assets
It has tapped long-time German financial executive Christoph Schumacher to fill it.
In a reflection of its growing private markets business, and the rising interest for real asset investments, John Hancock Investment Management’s parent, Toronto-based Manulife Investment Management, has created a post of global head of real assets, private markets.
Long-time German financial executive Christoph Schumacher will fill it, with the responsibilities of defining the firm’s private real assets strategy and managing the operations and development, launch, and growth of investment solutions for clients across the globe.
The heads of each of Manulife’s real asset teams will report directly to him.
Private assets currently account for US$42.9 billion of the parent, representing about 7% of the firm’s C$803.3 billion assets under management, according to the company’s website.
Before joining Manulife this month, Schumacher was Global Head Real Estate at Credit Suisse Asset Management AG.
He also chaired that firm’s supervisory board.
Schumacher will be based in Boston.
“Christoph shares our vision to unify and collectively grow our global real assets business,” said Steve Blewitt, global head of private markets, Manulife Investment Management, in prepared remarks. “As more of our clients seek solutions across a broad range of alternative asset classes, Christoph’s acumen and experience will help ensure Manulife Investment Management continues to meet our clients’ needs and help drive strong investment performance over the long-term.”