Manulife Asset Management Names Gary Li as Managing Director and Derivatives Portfolio Manager

BOSTON, Jan. 21, 2014 /CNW/ - Manulife Asset Management said today that Gary Li has joined the firm as a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager with responsibility for derivatives portfolios. He is based in Boston and reports to Barry Evans, President, North American Asset Management and Chief Investment Officer, Asset Allocation.

"Gary is an experienced portfolio manager with deep expertise in derivatives, alternative asset analysis, asset allocation and risk. We are pleased to welcome him to our team," said Mr. Evans.

In his new role at Manulife Asset Management, Mr. Li helps manage approximately $34 billion in John Hancock wealth management portfolios, as well as developing and managing synthetic asset exposures inside certain asset allocation portfolios. He also is providing advisory and risk support to the firm's equity and fixed income portfolio managers with respect to their derivative positions.

Previously, Mr. Li was with MetLife Insurance Corporation as an AVP and Manager, Derivatives Risk Management. Prior to that he was Director of Risk Management and Asset Allocation for the South Carolina Retirement Investment Commission, and before that served as Director, Derivatives and Alternative Strategies for Wells Fargo Capital Management.

He holds a PhD (ABD) in Finance from the University of Colorado, a PhD in Statistics from Indiana University, an MS in Operations Research from Tsinghua University in Beijing, and a BA in Applied Mathematics from Sichuan University in Chengdu, China.

About Manulife Asset Management
Manulife Asset Management is the global asset management arm of Manulife Financial, providing comprehensive asset management solutions for institutional investors and investment funds in key markets around the world. This investment expertise extends across a broad range of public, private, and alternative asset classes, as well as asset allocation solutions. As at September 30, 2013, assets under management for Manulife Asset Management were C$265 billion (US$258 billion).

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

About Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. Clients look to Manulife for strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions. Our international network of employees, agents and distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management products and services to millions of clients. We also provide asset management services to institutional customers. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$574.6 billion (US$558.7 billion) as at September 30, 2013. The Company operates as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John Hancock in the United States.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial may be found on the Internet at manulife.com.

SOURCE: Manulife Asset Management

Beth McGoldrick, 617-663-4751, [email protected]

http://www.manulife.com