The asset management arm of Canada's Manulife has boosted its fixed income capabilities in Asia.

Manulife Asset Management has appointed Murray Collis as managing director, head of fixed income in Singapore.

Collis was most recently head of Asian fixed income at Standish Mellon Asset Management, based in Singapore. Previously, he spent 16 years with First State Investments covering currencies, global bonds and credit.

He will lead all Singapore-based fixed income strategies and oversee a local team of portfolio managers and credit analysts. He will report to both Endre Pedersen, chief investment officer, fixed income, Asia (excluding Japan), and Wendy Lim, chief executive of Manulife Asset Management (Singapore). Collis will also help manage pan-Asian strategies such as Asia Total Return and Asian Bond Absolute Return.

“Singapore is one of the leading fixed income centres in Asia. As the slow growth and low interest rate environment looks to remain for a period of time, we continue to be committed to identifying investment solutions in the Singapore and Asian fixed income space,” Pedersen said. 

“With Murray’s wealth of experience and the strong capabilities from our investment professionals on the ground, we are well poised for capturing future opportunities and growth.”

Manulife Asset Management's Asian fixed income team comprises 60 investment professionals, including over 20 credit analysts, across 10 Asian markets. 

As at the end of June 2016, Manulife Asset Management looked after around C$435 billion ($334 billion) in assets.