Commitment to expanding its digitally enabled distribution capability.
Hong Kong based Manulife Investment Management has moved its chief marketing officer, Grace Ho to become the head of direct digital business and portfolios in Asia.
The newly created role reflects the firm’s commitment to expanding its digitally enabled distribution capability to embrace the new normal. CIO Tech Asia reported in September 2020, the financial services company was committed to driving its digital capabilities.
According to Michael Dommermuth, head of wealth and asset management Asia at Manulife said the company continued to invest in digitalisation.
“We see the need to revolutionise our structure and create a mission control that brings together strategic management of business propositions, portfolios of digital offerings, and alignment with technology across different markets in Asia,” he said. “Our focus needs to be razor-sharp, emphasising prioritisation and a delivery road map against the highest valued business opportunities.”
In her new role, Ho will have business accountability for the direct digital business, and be responsible for integrating digital offerings such as Manulife iFUNDS and post log-in website experience into the firm’s digital ecosystems across investment and pension platforms, with the objective of creating persistent business returns.
She will also become the product owner of Manulife iFUNDS, an award-winning digital platform that allows investors to manage their mutual fund portfolios, get access to market insights, and make fund transactions.
“Manulife iFUNDS is an important addition to Manulife’s wealth offerings, allowing the firm to better serve customers’ insurance savings, investment and retirement needs.
COVID-19 has changed the way our industry distributes wealth solutions, and we have the disruptive solution in Manulife iFUNDS to match the challenges,” Ho noted. “Our job is to fully leverage and build on Manulife iFUNDS, bringing a total wealth solution to different markets in Asia, noted Ho.
Another focus for this new role is the advancement of the range of digital solutions in supporting Manulife’s captive distribution channel.
Digital solutions play a vital role in equipping our advisors with investment and market insights for the delivery of quality customer experience the way our customers want it.”
Manulife iFUNDS has been launched in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam since 2019.
It enables both the customers and Manulife advisors in different ways. Customers can plan and make fund transactions on the Manulife iFUNDS platform, and advisors can have easy access to customers’ portfolio information for them to provide timely service virtually yet with human touch.
In July 2020, Manulife Hong Kong appointed Anthony Buchanan as its CIO, as well as three other C-level executives to help strengthen the company’s leadership capabilities and drive its strategic initiatives in Hong Kong, Macau, and the Greater Bay Area.
Tags: digital servicesmanulife
