Ramesh Nair has joined Colliers in Mumbai
Colliers International has appointed Ramesh Nair as chief executive for India and managing director of market development for Asia, the latest personnel move in what’s shaping up to be a busy hiring season at the agency.
Nair joins Colliers after a 21-year career at rival JLL, most recently as chief executive and country head for India. Based in Mumbai, he will work alongside but across the subcontinent from Sankey Prasad, Colliers’ Bangalore-based chairman and managing director, to lead the business.
As managing director of market development for Asia, Nair will use his industry experience to add value beyond the boundaries of India and develop services, expand client relationships and attract other talented professionals to Colliers, the Toronto-based property consultancy said in a Wednesday press release. The appointment to both roles took immediate effect.
“We are delighted to have Ramesh join us to lead and accelerate the success of our clients and our people in one of the largest and most dynamic economies in the world,” said John Kenny, chief executive for Asia Pacific. “His experience and leadership skills will be particularly relevant to our clients in the region and around the world as they seek opportunities in the post-COVID economy.”
Growth Mindset
Nair led an organisation of more than 12,000 people as CEO of JLL India. His responsibilities in the top seat at Colliers will include driving long-term sustainable and profitable growth and developing the company’s short- and long-term strategies.
Sankey Prasad continues as chairman of Colliers India in Bangalore
Before joining JLL in 1999, Nair had brief stints at Colliers and CBRE. He has served as a non-executive director on the RICS Global Regulatory Board, as chairman of the CII Real Estate and Infrastructure Conclave, as an advisory council member for the state of Telangana and as a member of the RICS South Asia board.
Nair earned a BBA from AM Jain College and an MBA in marketing and finance from the University of Madras.
“I was attracted by Colliers’ reputation as the fastest-growing real estate services firm in India,” Nair said. “I am impressed by Colliers’ strategic acquisitions including India’s leading project management firm Synergy and thrilled to be a part of this growth story. Colliers’ decentralised operating model, enterprising culture, service excellence mindset and global brand make me excited about what we can achieve for our clients in India and Asia.”
Synergy Boost
Colliers acquired an 80 percent controlling interest in Bangalore-based Synergy in 2019, more than tripling the agency’s workforce in India to 1,400 professionals in 16 offices countrywide while enhancing its project management and design services. Synergy co-founder Prasad assumed the role of managing director and chairman at that time.
“I welcome Ramesh to the Colliers team and look forward to collaborating with him to drive exceptional results for our clients,” Prasad said. “The Colliers business in India has grown significantly in the last few years, and we have accelerated our growth plans in this exciting economy.”
Nair’s appointment to the top job in India comes amid a whirl of people news at Colliers within the last 30 days, including the hiring this month of former JLL hands John Howald as executive director and head of international capital for Asia Pacific in Singapore and Dorothy Chow as executive director for valuation and advisory services in Asia, based in Hong Kong.
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