Asia Real Estate People in the News 2021-05-10

Board moves at a pair of Singapore-listed giants lead this week’s roundup of personnel moves on Mingtiandi, as CapitaLand and the manager of Keppel REIT both name new independent, non-executive directors. There are also senior leadership changes at data centre operator Equinix and at a US developer backed by a mainland China fund manager.

CapitaLand has added a new non-executive, independent director to its board, the Singaporean real estate giant announced to the stock exchange last week. Judy Hsu, chief executive for consumer, private and business banking at Standard Chartered Bank, joined CapitaLand’s board on 4 May, and will serve as a member of the executive resource and compensation committee, as well as the risk committee, with the Temasek-controlled developer. Now 58, Hsu was regional CEO for ASEAN and South Asia at Standard Chartered until taking on her current role at the bank in January.

Keppel REIT Management Limited, the manager of Keppel REIT, has appointed Yoichiro Hamaoka as an independent non-executive director on its board, where he will also serve as a member of the manager’s audit and risk committee, according to an announcement to the Singapore exchange. Currently chairman of EW Asset Management, which focuses on the healthcare sector, Hamaoka spent much of his career in real estate roles with Japan’s Mitsui Fudosan.

NASDAQ-listed Equinix has appointed Cyrus Adaggra as vice president of corporate development for its Asia Pacific operation, according to a company statement. Based in Sydney, Adaggra is charged with leading growth for the US data centre player in the region. The 20-year finance veteran joins Equinix from Australian telco Telstra, where he spent 10 years leading mergers and acquisitions. The graduate of Macquarie University also has previous experience with Ernst & Young.

Gemini Rosemont Commercial Real Estate has appointed Adrian Sum as chief executive, according to a recent statement, giving the chairman of Hong Kong-listed Gemini Investments top level executive responsibility for its US joint venture. Sum, who also chairs Gemini Rosemont, is taking over the CEO spot from Ken Brownlow, who has led the company since his US firm, Rosemont, established the JV with the division of China’s Sino-Ocean Group in 2015. Brownlow will be transitioning to an advisory role.

Felix Cao has joined China Aoyuan Group as director of human resources, according to an update to his LinkedIn profile. Now based in Guangzhou, Cao takes on his new role with the developer after serving more than four years with cross-town behemoth Country Garden, as deputy director of human resources with the company’s Malaysian division. The graduate of China’s Nanchang University spent more than seven years with Country Garden, including four years based in Malaysia.

Vivian Liao has taken on the role of sales director with JLL New Technologies, a new unit of the property consultancy responsible for helping clients source the most compatible technologies for operating their commercial real estate businesses and enhancing the workplace. Based in Singapore, Liao picked up her new name cards this month after previously serving as a director with the regional markets team at JLL in the city.

Alex Chan has been promoted to executive director with the valuation and advisory services division at CBRE in Korea, according to an update to his LinkedIn profile. Based in Seoul, Chan is taking it to the next level after three years as a senior director with the professional services division at CBRE in the city. The graduate of the UK’s University of Westminister has been with CBRE in Korea since moving there from Hong Kong in 2007.

If you know of other Asia real estate professionals changing their jobs, getting promoted or just doing something exciting, please contact us here at Mingtiandi.