Manulife Investment Management appoints Kenneth Ong to lead the next phase of growth for its Singapore equities platform

Singapore – Manulife Investment Management today announced the appointment of Kenneth Ong as Head of Equities, Singapore, effective September 1, 2026.

Based in Singapore, Kenneth will lead the firm's Singapore equities team, oversee Manulife Investment Management's Singapore equity portfolios, and contribute to the continued development of the firm's equities platform in Asia. He will also work closely with colleagues across the regional equities organization to deliver long-term value for clients through the team's established investment philosophy and disciplined investment process.

“Kenneth's appointment reflects our commitment to strengthening our investment platform with experienced talent and on-the-ground market expertise,” said June Chua, Head of Asia Equities, Manulife Investment Management. “Singapore remains an important market within our regional equities franchise, and Kenneth's extensive investment experience, strong understanding of the market, and collaborative approach will further enhance our ability to deliver differentiated investment outcomes for clients. Supported by our Singapore-based investment team and on-the-ground research capabilities, we remain well positioned to uncover differentiated opportunities and deliver long-term value for clients. We are delighted to welcome him to the team.”

Kenneth brings 18 years of investment experience, including 15 years in public equities and three years in direct real estate investments. He joins Manulife Investment Management from Lion Global Investors, where he spent nearly 12 years, most recently as portfolio manager for the firm's Singapore Equity Strategies. Prior to that, he served as portfolio manager for Indonesian equities and as an analyst covering global equities. Earlier in his career, Kenneth worked at GuocoLand Group in investment and corporate planning.

Following a career spanning more than 25 years, including more than eight years with Manulife Investment Management, Hock Fai Chan, CFA, Head of Equities, Singapore, and lead portfolio manager for the firm's Singapore equity strategies, has expressed his plan to retire from the organization, effective December 31, 2026.

HuiJian Koh, CEO, Manulife Investments Singapore, said: “The combination of Kenneth's market experience, investment expertise and deep understanding of the Singapore market will further strengthen our equities capabilities and build on the strong foundation of our Singapore equities platform. His appointment underscores our continued commitment to delivering differentiated Singapore equity strategies and long-term value for clients.”