Manulife Investment Management has appointed Brent McGowan as global head and chief investment officer of its agriculture business.

Oliver Williams, Manulife IM’s former global head of agriculture investments, will move into a strategic adviser role and collaborate closely with McGowan with a focus on investment strategy and execution.

McGowan, who brings 30 years of experience in the food and agricultural industry will oversee Manulife IM’s $4.2bn (€3.7bn) agriculture business, focusing on growth and performance.

He was most recently chief operating officer for Novus Ag and before that was global head of agricultural operations at Manulife IM.

During his past tenure at Manulife IM, McGowan helped provide strategic leadership for the firm’s agricultural operations, fostering relationships and spearheading transformation efforts for the business.

Anne Valentine Andrews, global head of private markets, Manulife IM, said: “Brent’s background in agricultural operations and leadership will cultivate new opportunities for investors and help to drive transformational change to enhance our portfolio.”

Williams said: “Brent’s extensive experience, coupled with the knowledge of Manulife IM and our clients gained while here, are invaluable to this role. His insights are instrumental in navigating the complexities of the agricultural industry, and his ability to drive strategic initiatives is essential as we continue to expand our portfolio. I look forward to working with him to position the platform for continuous long-term growth and success.”

McGowan said: “There is a deep passion at Manulife IM for the communities that we are privileged to work with to bring nutrition to tables around the world. I admire the business’s steadfast commitment to responsibly steward farmland and produce sustainable food and fiber to deliver performance to clients, and I am excited to contribute in a meaningful way to the future of the platform.”

To read the latest IPE Real Assets magazine click here. 

Topics