The Empire Life Insurance Co. has lured its new chief investment officer along with two portfolio managers away from CIBC Asset Management.

Gaelen Morphet joins Empire Life as senior vice president and chief investment officer. Lieh Wang was named as senior portfolio manager, and Nessim Mansoor was appointed portfolio manager.

The trio will help form a key cornerstone of the Empires Life’s investment management team, having worked together for over five years at CIBC where they oversaw a multitude of investment strategies including Canadian equities, Canadian balanced, dividend income, and income trust.

As CIO, Morphet will be responsible for the Empire Life segregated fund and general fund portfolios. She will also be responsible for managing selected assets of Empire’s sister company, The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Co. Morphet will be a member of the Empire Life executive leadership team and will be based in the company’s investment management offices in Toronto.

“We are extremely pleased to announce these appointments,” saus Drew Wallace, executive vice president, retail, “Under Gaelen’s leadership, and with the strong addition of Lieh and Nessim, the Empire Life Investment Management team will continue to work closely and conscientiously to manage our investments as it has throughout our more than 40-year investment management history; using a conservative, value-oriented philosophy and focus on capital preservation in the best interests of our customers and shareholders.”

IE