JLL Names New China Research Chief as Agencies Up Their Numbers Games

Property services company JLL has named a new chief for its China research team as the region’s top property consultancies compete to upgrade their market insight functions.

JLL, which has a team of 60 researchers in China, announced late last week that it has hired Fay Wu as head of research for China, based in Shanghai.

Wu, a Shanghai native who attended Stanford University in the US and previously worked in North America and Hong Kong, replaces former mainland research boss Daniel Yao, who left JLL late last year to pursue new opportunities.

Equities and AI

“JLL has a highly talented and knowledgeable research team with an authoritative voice in the industry,” said Nelson Wong, head of research for Greater China at JLL. “With Fay on board, we are confident that her rich experience and international background will provide diversified offerings to our sophisticated clients, as well as grow the team in scope and depth.”

Wu joins JLL after having previously co-founded DeepInv, an artificial intelligence startup in Shanghai which focuses on the property sector. Prior to setting up that company in 2019, Wu had spent three years as a vice president responsible for fintech and consumer payment at Wells Fargo in the San Francisco Bay Area.

After completing her MBA at INSEAD in 2007, Wu had worked as an equity research analyst at CLSA in Hong Kong and later spent four years as a vice president for equities research with China’s Bank of Communications (BOCOM) in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

“I am proud to be part of this industry-leading research team and confident to build upon with influential research output, to support our clients on smart decisions to grow healthy in the fast-growing market,” Wu said.

Wu’s hire adds yet another female voice to JLL’s mainland management team with the firm having named Anny Zhang to lead its East China operation in December of last year.

Knight Frank Adds to Singapore Team

JLL’s China announcement was the second of two major agency research moves revealed last week, with Knight Frank having earlier introduced Christine Li as its new head of research for Asia Pacific on Monday.

A one-time business journalist, Li will now oversee the property consultancy’s analysis teams across the region, Knight Frank said in an announcement.

“As trusted advisors, Knight Frank invests heavily in providing insight and perspectives to our clients, said Knight Frank’s Kevin Coppel, who leads the company’s Asia Pacific efforts from Singapore. “Christine’s experience working with Singapore’s leading institutional and private investors, alongside her breadth of expertise across Asia and profile in the market make her the ideal candidate to lead Knight Frank’s research in the region.”

Li joins Knight Frank after more than six years with Cushman & Wakefield, where she had served for the past year year as head of business development services for Singapore and Southeast Asia, after earlier leading the research function for the region.

The graduate of Cornell University also has previous experience with local property agency OrangeTee and as a reporter with Singapore Press Holdings.