Big moves at a sovereign wealth fund and a NYSE-listed Chinese developer top the list of familiar faces in new places among the region’s real estate community this week, with ADIA’s head of real estate for Asia leading the way. Also in the news, a pair of new appointments in Singapore’s CapitaLand Group, and a mainland developer is staffing up in Singapore.
Robert Walker is preparing to step down from his role as head of real estate for Asia Pacific at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, according to a recent report by industry publication Private Equity Real Estate. Walker, who has been with the sovereign fund of the emirate of Abu Dhabi since 2009, will be leaving his position at the end of April, with understudy Todd Rhodes taking on the role of acting head of Asia for the fund manager’s real estate division while ADIA searches for Walker’s replacement.
Frank Li Yifan has been appointed as an independent director and a member of the audit committee at NYSE-listed Xinyuan Real Estate, according to an announcement by the property developer last week. Li is currently a vice president at automaker Geely Holding Group, and also serves as a director at that firm. The accounting professional also has experience at Nanjing-based SanPower Group, where he is credited with leading acquisitions of the UK’s House of Fraser and US retailer Brookstone.
Kevin Chee Tien Jin has been appointed deputy CEO of CapitaLand Commercial Trust Management, according to recent announcement by the Singapore-listed trust manager. The 48-year-old veteran of the Temasek Holdings-backed property group steps up to his new role from his current pair of positions as head of asset management of CapitaLand Commercial Trust Management, and senior vice president of asset management for the commercial division of CapitaLand Singapore.
Beh Siew Kim is taking over the position of deputy CEO at CapitaLand’s Ascott Residence Trust Management according to a recent announcement by the company. The 43-year-old is currently financial controller and head of corporate planning and compliance at CapitaLand China, and has been with the Singaporean property conglomerate’s mainland China division for ten years, where she has been involved in the M&A and the establishment of private equity funds, among other duties.
Li Bai has joined CFLD International as Director of Investment Promotion, based in Singapore. The international arm of top 10 mainland developer, China Fortune Land Development has been rapidly building up a team in the southeast Asian hub, as it expands globally into more than a dozen markets including India, Egypt, southeast Asia and North America. Li previously had experience in customer service with Singaporean developer Ascendas (now Ascendas-Singbridge). Former Knight Frank China executive Graham Zink also signed up with CFLD International last year, and the group is reportedly taking a full floor of space in Singapore’s Asia Square complex in the Marina Bay district.
As usual, if you know of other China real estate professionals changing their jobs, getting promoted or just doing something exciting, please feel free to share with the rest of the community here at Mingtiandi.
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