There's a top-level management reshuffle going on across the Asian businesses of the Canada-headquartered group. Jurisdictions that are affected include Indonesia, Japan and Singapore.

Manulife Asia, part of Canada-headquartered Manulife, has made what it calls “strategic changes” to its senior leadership team across emerging markets, Indonesia, Japan and Singapore, and finance.

Dr Kah Siang Khoo, CEO of Singapore, who joined the firm in 2018, will be become CEO of emerging markets, overseeing Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Philippines. 

Michael Thomssen, chief financial officer, Asia and Sachin Shah, head of emerging markets, will be leaving the firm, it said in a statement. 

During a transition period, Dr Khoo will continue to serve as the CEO of Singapore, until he hands over that role to Benoit Meslet on 1 June. Meslet’s assumption of his role is subject to regulatory clearance. 

Meslet, who is currently CEO for Japan, joined Manulife in 2020. He has worked in the Asian life insurance sector for more than two decades.

Ryan Charland, CEO of Indonesia – who has led the Indonesia business since 2019 – will become CEO of Japan, effective 1 May. He will join Meslet in Japan in April to ensure a smooth transition.

Lauren Sulistiawati has been named CEO of Indonesia, effective 24 February, pending regulatory approval. She will work closely with Charland in a transition phase, and reports to Dr Khoo. 

Sulistiawati will be joining from Commonwealth Bank, where she moved its operations to Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation. She has held leadership positions in various Indonesian and multinational banks.

Adrienne O’Neill, global controller and group accounting officer, has been made Asia chief financial officer, reporting to Colin Simpson, global chief financial officer, and Phil Witherington. O’Neill, who has been with Manulife for over 17 years, has served in a variety of finance roles, most recently as global controller and group chief accounting officer. She also served as the global head of investor relations from 2018 to 2021.

“These changes showcase the depth and strength of our leadership across Asia and position us to continue delivering high-quality sustainable growth and be the number one choice for customers,” Phil Witherington, president and CEO of Manulife Asia, said. “We are well on track to achieve our goal of contributing half of Manulife’s core earnings by 2027, and these leaders have consistently executed our strategy. Their leadership in these new roles will help define the next chapter for Manulife Asia.”

Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for its global wealth and asset management arm, Manulife serves institutions and individual clients.