Knight Frank Promotes Craig Shute to Asia Pacific CEO

Knight Frank has named Craig Shute as CEO of Asia Pacific to succeed Kevin Coppel, who will retire from the London-based property consultancy in March 2025.

Hong Kong-based Shute, who joined Knight Frank last October as CEO of the partnership’s Greater China business, will begin his new role on 1 April 2025.

“With a proven track record of driving growth and delivering strong results across multiple markets, Craig’s leadership will play a key role in shaping the next phase of our APAC strategy,” William Beardmore-Gray, senior partner and group chair of Knight Frank said in a release on Wednesday. “His appointment is testament to the partnership’s commitment to strengthening our presence across APAC, ensuring sustained and organic growth across the region.”

Knight Frank’s Asia Pacific business employs 11,000 people in 300 offices across 16 markets, according to the consultancy.

25-Year Veteran

Shute has over 25 years of experience in the real estate industry, having held senior leadership roles across Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the US.

“I am honoured and excited by this opportunity to work with our valued clients, exceptional people, and businesses across Asia Pacific,” said Shute. “We are different. Knight Frank’s entrepreneurial, unique partnership structure ideally positions us to provide superior services and advice to our clients and attract the best talent in the industry. This powerful combination will continue to see our brand expand throughout this diverse and ever-evolving region.”

Shute joined Knight Frank from JLL Australia, where he served as managing director for Victoria state. Before that, the executive worked as national director of capital markets for Colliers while based in Adelaide, in addition to a brief stint at Adelaide Airport Limited as an executive general manager of property.

Prior to those roles, Shute worked at CBRE for over 17 years, including leading the firm’s operations in Hong Kong and Taiwan from 2008 to 2016. The University of South Australia graduate also held various roles with the property consultancy in the US and Australia.

“Kevin’s contributions to the success of our Asia Pacific operations have been significant,” said Beardmore-Gray. “Under his leadership, the region has become one of the fastest growing and most dynamic areas of our global business, as illustrated recently by our acquisition of the McGrath business in Australia. As we look forward, I am confident that Craig’s extensive industry experience and strategic vision will help us continue our growth trajectory in this important region.”

Greater China Appointments

Shute’s promotion comes after several senior appointments within Knight Frank’s Greater China team this year.

On Monday, Knight Frank named Travis Huggins as chief operating officer for Greater China. Reporting to Shute, Hong Kong-based Huggins oversees the finance, human resources, information technology and office administration teams for the region while also having joined the Greater China executive board.

In July, the consultancy appointed Clement Lau as managing director of professional services for Greater China, succeeding 27-year company veteran Alnwick Chan, who is retiring from the role in March 2025. Lau is joining Knight Frank on 14 October after a 24-year spell at Hongkong Land, where he served as director and head of development and valuations for the Jardine Matheson-controlled builder.

That same month, Knight Frank promoted Cyrus Fong to executive director and head of valuations and advisory for Greater China after more than eight years as a senior director with the valuation and advisory team, with Fong’s new role adding mainland China responsibilities to his existing Hong Kong remit.

In April, Martin Wong was promoted to senior director at Knight Frank’s Greater China business, where he continues to serve as head of research and consultancy for the region.