High finance in the data centre world leads this week’s review of personnel moves from Asia’s data centre industry as Empyrion DC adds to its top leadership. Also making the list is a former LaSalle managing director setting up his own shop and Hines upgrading a key member of its Korea team.
Empyrion DC announced this past week that it has appointed Teruo Iwamoto as chief financial officer, based in Singapore. The data centre portfolio company of Singapore private equity firm Seraya Partners brings Iwamoto on board after he spent just over two years as chief financial officer and head of acquisitions with PAG’s Flow Digital Infrastructure in the Lion City. The graduate of Tokyo’s Waseda University also has earlier experience with AirTrunk, Digital Realty and ESR.
Matthew Yao Jianguo has established investment manager Wealth Castle Ventures in Hong Kong to connect institutional and high net worth individual investors to fast-growing businesses and markets, according to a LinkedIn update. Yao has gone out on his own after just over a year with LaSalle Investment Management in the city, where he served as a managing director heading the company’s renminbi investment strategy. Yao also previously served in senior roles with PGIM Real Estate and CBRE Global Investors.
Hines has promoted Jihoon Chung to director with the company’s private equity real estate business in Seoul, Korea, according to a LinkedIn update. Chung takes his step up at the Houston-based developer and fund manager after just over two years with the same team in Seoul, where he previously worked as a senior associate. The graduate of Korea’s Yonsei University also has prior experience with Deutsche Asset Management and Monitor Deloitte.
Singapore-listed Far East Orchard announced to the SGX on 6 March that it has appointed former Keppel Ltd chief financial officer Chan Hon Chew to an independent non-executive director role on its board, with effect from that same day. Now 58, Chan stepped down from his role with Keppel in December after nearly nine years with the Temasek Holdings-backed investment firm and also spent more than a decade in finance roles with Singapore Airlines.
City Developments Ltd-backed First Sponsor announced to the Singapore exchange on 8 March that it has appointed Low Beng Lan to an independent, non-executive director position on its board with effect from 15 March. Now 60, had served as chief financial officer of Changi Airports International Ltd from 2013 through 2020, while simultaneously serving as a director and head of the audit committee for Basel Aero, a Changi-backed joint venture in Russia.
With private credit continuing its rise as a preferred strategy among global investment managers, BlackRock has appointed Maheshwar Nataraj to lead its efforts in the sector for India. Nataraj is taking over the top spot with the company’s private credit strategy as incumbent Dhruva Agarwal exits, according to a Bloomberg report citing a company statement. Nataraj previously led sourcing and management of private credit opportunities for BlackRock in the country, according to the news account.
Hilton announced on 4 March that it has appointed Nong Xia as president of development for Greater China and Mongolia, as it aims to ramp up growth in the region. Xia joins the US hotel owner and manager after nearly five years with mainland hospitality giant H World (formerly Huazhu) where he served as a group executive vice president. He also has experience with HNA, Starwood, and Hyatt Hotels. In the same announcement, Hilton said that it has brought on board former Swire Hotels and Galaxy Entertainment executive Maria Ariizumi as vice president for development in Southeast Asia.
Greenberg Traurig announced this past week that Jake Robson has joined its Singapore office as co-managing shareholder and head of its mergers and acquisitions practice for South and Southeast Asia. With the US law firm continuing to expand its Singapore presence, Robson picked up his new namecards after more than four years with King & Wood Mallesons in the city, and also has experience with Morrison & Foerster and Norton Rose Fulbright.
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.
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