Manu Bhaskaran

Manu Bhaskaran

Leading Asian Macroeconomist & Strategic Advisor on Emerging Markets

Core Intelligence Domain: Economics
Location: Singapore | Languages: English
Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence

Manu Bhaskaran is one of the most distinguished economic and political commentators in Asia, boasting nearly four decades of proprietary insight into the region’s macroeconomic frameworks and shifting geopolitical landscapes. As the Chief Executive Officer of Centennial Asia Advisors, he provides high-level strategic foresight to government agencies, multinational corporations, and global investment institutions navigating the complexities of Asian emerging markets.

A highly respected figure in global financial intelligence, Bhaskaran serves as a Partner at the Centennial Group, a premier strategic advisory firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. His expertise is deeply rooted in empirical research and institutional knowledge, cultivated during his extensive tenure as Managing Director and Chief Economist at SG Securities Asia. Over the course of twelve years, he directed the firm’s Asian economic and investment strategy, establishing frameworks that successfully guided institutional investors through periods of profound regional volatility, including the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.

Strategic Leadership and Policy Influence

Beyond his corporate advisories, Bhaskaran holds prominent positions within leading policy institutes and regulatory advisory boards. He is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) in Singapore, where his research focuses on macroeconomic policy paradigms and structural economic shifts. His authoritative voice in international finance is further cemented by his appointment to the Regional Advisory Board for Asia of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where he advises on systemic risks and regional economic resilience.

He is also a Vice President of the Economics Society of Singapore and serves on the boards of several prominent corporate and advisory entities, including CIMB Group and Banyan Tree Holdings, functioning as a vital conduit between public policy and private sector strategy.

Primary Speaking Topics & Proprietary Frameworks

• The Asian Macroeconomic Outlook: Detailed forecasts on GDP growth, inflation trajectories, and monetary policy shifts across major Asian economies.
• Geopolitics and Economic Disruption: Strategic analysis of US-China tensions, regional trade realignments, and their direct impact on global supply chains and foreign direct investment in Southeast Asia.
• Navigating Emerging Markets: Identifying sovereign risks and uncovering high-yield investment opportunities within the ASEAN bloc and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
• Structural Transformations in Asia: The impact of demographic changes, technological disruption, and energy transitions on the future of Asian commerce.
• China’s Economic Trajectory: Decoding domestic policy shifts in Beijing and their ripple effects across regional and global markets.

Key Takeaways

• Unrivalled Regional Intelligence: Gain access to nearly 40 years of empirical data and high-level macroeconomic analysis specific to the Asia-Pacific region.
• Actionable Strategic Foresight: Equip leadership teams with the proprietary frameworks necessary to anticipate regulatory changes, mitigate geopolitical risks, and capitalise on emerging market growth.
• Authoritative Policy Insights: Leverage Bhaskaran’s extensive network and advisory roles within entities like the IMF to understand the critical intersection of macroeconomic governance and corporate strategy.