Manulife Philippines, the local subsidiary of the global financial services provider Manulife, has announced the appointment of two new executives who will assume responsibility for overseeing its financial and risk functions.
Justin Helferich, the newly-appointed chief financial officer (CFO), will play a pivotal role in achieving Manulife Philippines' growth objectives in the country.
Simultaneously, Katerina Suarez, the firm's new chief risk officer (CRO), will lead the charge in effectively managing operational risks, ultimately enhancing business profitability and productivity.
Rahul Hora, Manulife Philippines president and chief executive officer said the global socio-economic disruptions have prompted Filipinos to view life insurance as a crucial financial safeguard.
Thus, Hora believes Helferich and Suarez’s appointments would help strengthen Manulife Philippines’ leadership team in response to increasing consumer demand, pursuing growth opportunities, navigating market risks, and serving customers with excellence.
In his capacity as CFO, Helferich will spearhead the enhancement of the company's financial strategy, stability, and overall performance, encompassing revenue generation and capital management.
With a tenure at Manulife spanning since 2010, Helferich has steadily advanced through increasingly senior positions across the United States and Asia.
Prior to assuming his new role, Helferich served as the Chief Executive Officer of Manulife Cambodia, effectively preserving the company's strong market standing.
Meanwhile, Suarez will assume responsibility for formulating comprehensive action plans pertaining to compliance, operational, reputational, and strategic risk management.
Serving as a strategic partner to the business, she will ensure the accurate identification and effective mitigation of risks faced by the company.
Having initially joined Manulife Philippines as CFO in 2017, Suarez subsequently transitioned into a regional role, where she spearheaded In-Force and Expense Management for Manulife's Emerging Markets team in 2021.