Manulife has appointed Jeremy Young as chief distribution officer, international brokerage, Global High-Net-Worth (GHNW), effective immediately, the insurer said on Tuesday.
Young has served as the firm’s interim chief distribution officer since March and brings more than 20 years of insurance experience across distribution, sales, marketing, product strategy and customer experience.
He joins Manulife from Transamerica Life Bermuda, where he was chief commercial officer, global. He previously held senior leadership positions at Sun Life, AIA and Sovereign.
Manulife said the appointment will support the expansion of its global high-net-worth platform and its efforts to serve clients across Asia, the Middle East and other international markets.
“GHNW remains a core pillar of Manulife’s strategy, and we will continue investing in our capabilities, products and partnerships to help meet the evolving needs of high-net-worth clients,” said Bonnie Qiu, CEO, Global High-Net-Worth and Chief Partnership Distribution Officer, Manulife Asia. “Jeremy’s leadership will enhance our ability to serve this market and capture the significant opportunities ahead.”
The appointment comes as insurers face growing scrutiny around products and financing arrangements targeting wealthy clients in Hong Kong.
In June, Manulife withdrew the leverage feature of a Hong Kong life insurance product that allowed high-net-worth customers to finance a substantial portion of a US$80m policy. The move followed regulatory scrutiny of premium-financing arrangements, which are commonly used by wealthy clients but have come under closer attention in the market.
The appointment also follows a series of distribution leadership changes across Manulife’s Asia business. In July, Manulife Malaysia appointed Sook Yann Lee as chief partnership distribution officer. Shortly afterwards, Manulife Hong Kong and Macau promoted Carrie Tong to chief distribution officer, succeeding Ivan Chan.
The changes come as Manulife Asia reports continued growth in the region. The insurer generated US$561m in new business CSM in the second quarter of 2026, up 17% year-on-year, while new business value rose 13% to US$506m. The company attributed the performance to stronger sales, primarily in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan.
The appointment also comes as competition in Asia’s high-net-worth market steps up, with insurers investing in larger underwriting capacity, cross-border platforms, and broader wealth management capabilities to capture the segement.
