Toronto-based Manulife Asset Management Ltd., Manulife Financial Corp.’s global asset-management arm, on Thursday announced the appointment of Frances Donald as senior economist.
Donald, a member of Manulife Asset Management’s capital markets and strategy group, reports to the firm’s chief economist, Megan Greene. The appointment was effective Jan. 4. In her new position, Donald will play a key role in Manulife Asset Management’s Canadian and Asian economic analysis and forecasting activities.
“We are pleased to welcome Frances to the team, to which she brings significant local expertise and depth as we continue to build thought leadership in Manulife’s wealth and asset management business,” says Bob Boyda, head of Manulife Asset Management’s capital markets and strategy group, in a statement. “While her main focus will be on Canada, Frances holds a global view with an emphasis on China. We look forward to her insights helping all our global clients understand the rapidly changing investment world.”
Prior to this appointment, Frances was financial economist with Bank of Nova Scotia in Toronto, at which she produced a variety of daily and weekly publications with a focus on financial markets and economic strategy, emphasizing the implications for fixed-income and equities markets.
In a previous role with Pavilion Global Markets, Donald served various clients. who leveraged her analyses of economic, political and policy developments and the impact these would have tactically or strategically on markets. She was also called on for bespoke research for clients and media requests.
In addition, Donald has held other key research roles with major organizations such as Deloitte LLP in New York, Roubini Global Economics in New York, and the Bank of Canada in Ottawa.
Donald, a native of Montreal, is fluently bilingual in English and French. She holds a bachelor of arts in economics from Queen’s University and a master’s degree in Economics from New York University.