Manulife Asset Management (Manulife AM) has expanded its global investment capabilities by naming Craig Bethune and Diana Racanelli as portfolio managers on a new global natural resources equity team.

Both join from TD Asset Management Inc. and are based in Toronto, further strengthening Manulife AM’s Canadian-based presence.

Together, they co-lead the team and report to Christopher Conkey, global chief investment officer.

Bethune served as a portfolio manager with his prior employer since 2008. Most recently he was the lead manager on TD Energy Fund and the TD Resource Fund and co-manager on TD Canadian Equity Fund with $3 billion in assets.

From 2002 to 2006 he was with the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System as portfolio manager – public equity group. Prior to that, Bethune held analyst and research positions with Credit Suisse Canada and other firms. He holds an MBA from the University of Toronto, and graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree. He is a CFA charterholder.

Racanelli most recently was a vice president and director with her prior employer, where she served as lead manager of TD Precious Metals Fund and was co-manager of resource and energy funds. From 2005 to 2007 she was with CIBC Global Asset Management as vice president, Canadian equities and before that as vice president, global equity research, from 2003 to 2005. She started her career in the industry on the sell-side working for both Burns Fry Limited and Scotia Capital Markets and was a base metals mining analyst before her move to AIC Limited on the buy-side. Racanelli has an Honours B.A. in Economics and English from the University of Toronto and is a CFA charterholder.