Asia Real Estate People in the News 2021-11-29

A top level appointment at China Vanke’s offshore division leads this week’s roundup of personnel moves, and the manager of Singapore-listed Sasseur REIT suffers another senior departure. There are also new faces reporting to work at CBRE in Singapore as well as at Colliers International in China as we check in on management moves around the region.

Vanke Overseas Investment Holding announced on 23 November that Sun Jia, 43, has been appointed as chairman of the Hong Kong-listed unit of developer China Vanke, with the personnel move taking effect that same day. Sun, has been employed by China Vanke since 2007, and has served most recently as chief executive of the builder’s southern regional business group and chief partner of Shenzhen Vanke. The graduate of Harvard Business School replaces former chairman Zhang Xu who left the company with Sun’s arrival.

The manager of Sasseur REIT said on 26 November that Ken Chew Hian Chin has resigned from his post as chief operating officer with the Singapore-listed trust of mainland China outlet malls. Chew’s departure was announced just two days after Sasseur REIT had promoted its general manager of finance, Xie Jianfeng, 42, to the role of chief financial officer. Xie replaced Jaslyn Leong Mei Kuan, who had resigned as head of finance in September with 26 September having marked her last day at Sasseur.

CBRE announced on 22 November that it has appointed Chris Ely as head of hotel asset management for Asia. Based in Singapore, Ely will lead hotel asset management and operator selection for CBRE across the region as part of the firm’s capital markets division. Prior to joining CBRE, Ely had spent two years as vice president of business development and asset management at hospitality management firm Next Story Group in Singapore, and also has prior experience at JLL in the city.

Colliers International said on 22 November that it has hired Kavana Wang as executive director of enterprise market solutions for China, with the appointment taking effect that same day. Formerly head of corporate solutions development for China at JLL, Wang is now tasked with developing new market opportunities and achieving growth in Colliers’ corporate real estate business, according to a statement by the company.

Darby Ma has joined IHG Hotels and Resorts in Shanghai as manager for partnerships with the parent company of the Crown Plaza and Holiday Inn hotel brands, according to a LinkedIn update. Ma joins IHG from developer Sunac China Holdings, where he served just half of a year as director of business development with the cash-strapped company’s culture and tourism division. Earlier, Ma had been senior manager for business development with Bangkok-based hotel management firm Anantara Vacation Club.

New World Development has hired Wilson Ngan as manager for investor relations, according to a LinkedIn update. Ngan joins the Hong Kong-listed developer after more than five years at public relations firm Strategic Financial Relations Ltd, where he had served most recently as a senior manager, after the graduate of the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong had joined the company as a fresh graduate in 2016.

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.