Steve Blewitt was the Chief Investment Officer and Head of Private Markets at Manulife Investment Management. In this role, Steve was responsible for leading global investment teams across a wide range of asset classes, including private equity and credit, real estate, infrastructure, timber, and agriculture. Manulife’s approximately US$ 50 billion investment portfolio was managed on behalf of the insurance company and its clients, including public and private pension plans, financial institutions, and family offices. In addition to investments, Steve had overall responsibility for strategy, acquisitions, compensation, product development and institutional distribution for the business. Previously, Steve led Manulife’s private equity and credit business for approximately 20 years.
"LSI is an opportunity to look at my life and be very introspective about myself, what my values are, and what I really want to do with the next 20 years. I've lived in a fairly cloistered corporate world and now I am able to see other parts of society that I have been bit removed from."
Steve has served as a Director of many public and private companies during his career, and presently serves as the Interim Chairperson of Manulife US Real Estate Management Pte. Ltd., a Singapore real estate investment trust that invests in U.S. office properties.
Steve has significant global experience, having travelled extensively in Asia to lead investment teams, raise institutional capital, and for M&A. Steve has significant experience in sustainable investing and was the Chairperson of Manulife’s Private Markets’ Sustainable Investment Committee. Steve was also the Executive Co-Chair of VIBE (U)S – Valuing the Inclusion of Black Experiences – a Manulife employee resource group.
Steve received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago, and his M.B.A. from the Questrom School at Boston University. He is married to Maria (also a University of Chicago alumna), and they have two grown children.