Distribution team also to include James Wheeler, Head of Sales and Relationship Management, Nordics and the Netherlands  

TORONTO and LONDON, March 30, 2016 /CNW/ -- Manulife Asset Management has announced the appointment of Marco Zanuso, CAIA, as Head of Distribution EMEA ex UK. Mr. Zanuso is based in London and reports to Claude Chene, Global Head of Distribution. In his new role, Mr. Zanuso oversees a team of distribution specialists building business relationships with institutional and wholesale clients.

"We are pleased to welcome Marco to Manulife Asset Management, as the leader of our business growth efforts in Europe, ex-UK, and the Middle East. His appointment marks another milestone in the expansion of our global distribution, and we look forward to much success as he and his team establish strategic partnerships across the region," said Mr. Chene.

Prior to joining Manulife Asset Management, Mr. Zanuso was with Sandell Asset Management as Head of Business Development, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). In his more than 17 years of sales and product development experience, he was involved in both traditional and alternative investments, including senior roles at FRM (Man Group), SEI Investments, and Scottish Widows Investment Partnership.

In another addition to the team, in July, James Wheeler will relocate from Manulife Asset Management's Hong Kong office to London. He will oversee business development in the Nordics and the Netherlands as head of sales and relationship management in those regions. He will report to Mr. Zanuso.

"The Nordic region and the Netherlands are large and strategically important markets for Manulife Asset Management's growth plans in Europe, and I am pleased that we will be able to benefit from James' extensive knowledge of these institutional investment markets," said Mr. Chene.

The appointments are the latest in a series of steps by Manulife Asset Management to expand its global distribution footprint. In November of last year, Robert Corbally was named to lead product in Europe and support its distribution initiative there, and in February, the firm appointed Diana Stockwell as Head of Latin American Sales and Relationship Management.

About Manulife Asset Management
Manulife Asset Management is the global asset management arm of Manulife, providing comprehensive asset management solutions for investors. This investment expertise extends across a broad range of public and private asset classes, as well as asset allocation solutions. As at December 31, 2015, assets under management for Manulife Asset Management were approximately US$301 billion (GBP£204 billion, EUR€277 billion, C$417 billion).

Manulife Asset Management's public markets units have investment expertise across a broad range of asset classes including public equity and fixed income, and asset allocation strategies.  Offices with full investment capabilities are located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. In addition, Manulife Asset Management has a joint venture asset management business in China, Manulife TEDA. The public markets units of Manulife Asset Management also provide investment management services to affiliates' retail clients through product offerings of Manulife and John Hancock. John Hancock Asset Management and Declaration Management and Research are units of Manulife Asset Management.

Additional information about Manulife Asset Management may be found at ManulifeAM.com.

About Manulife
Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services group providing forward-thinking solutions to help people with their big financial decisions. We operate as John Hancock in the United States, and Manulife elsewhere. We provide financial advice, insurance and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups and institutions. At the end of 2015, we had approximately 34,000 employees, 63,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving 20 million customers. At the end of December 2015, we had $935 billion (US$676 billion) in assets under management and administration, and in the previous 12 months we made more than $24.6 billion in benefits, interest and other payments to our customers. Our principal operations are in Asia, Canada and the United States where we have served customers for more than 100 years. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong. Follow Manulife on Twitter @ManulifeNews or visit www.manulife.com or www.johnhancock.com. 

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/manulife-asset-management-names-marco-zanuso-caia-as-head-of-distribution-emea-ex-uk-300242887.html

SOURCE Manulife Asset Management