CapitaLand Investment Promotes Andrew Lim to Group COO

With around $63 billion in real estate funds now under management, CapitaLand Investment is bulking up its senior management with a series of moves announced on Thursday.

The fund management division of CapitaLand Group has promoted its group chief financial officer Andrew Lim to the newly created position of group chief operating officer with effect from 1 January, the company said in a statement.

At the same time, current deputy group CFO Paul Tham will step up to take over Lim’s position as group chief financial officer.

“Building and strengthening our company’s leadership team and capabilities is a priority for CLI as we transform and grow as a global real estate investment manager,” said CapitaLand Investment Group CEO Lee Chee Koon. “These appointments demonstrate CLI’s proactive and disciplined focus on succession planning and talent management.”

Focus on Finance

In his new role the company expects Lim to facilitate and steward deal sourcing, investment and operations across the group’s geographic markets for both its fund and lodging platforms, with an aim to better connect investors with the company’s private and public strategies.

Under the leadership of CapitaLand Investment’s China chief executive Puah Tze Shyang, Lim will oversee the company’s China business, as well as taking charge of operations in Japan, Korea, Australia, Europe and USA to capture investment opportunities in those markets, the company said.

After joining CapitaLand at the end of last year from Keppel REIT, Tham is now taking charge of the financial operations of the fund manager, including looking after capital management and strategy.

M&A and Risk

In addition to naming a new group COO and CFO, CapitaLand also named team members to a trio of newly created positions.

Janine Gui, currently managing director and head of group strategic investment at the company, has been appointed chief M&A Officer, and Kng Hwee Tin, the company’s chief executive for China China capital markets and CEO for finance and corporate services for CLI China, has been appointed group chief risk officer.

The appointments for Gui and Kng are both effective 1 January 2023. The company has also hired Quah Ley Hoon, formerly chief executive with Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority as chief people and culture officer from 1 December 2022.

“CLI will continually renew and expand its management bench strength to bring onboard experienced talent both at the corporate level and in our business units, as well as grow our talent from within,” Lee said.