JLL Welcomes Back Nelson Wong as Head of Research for Greater China

JLL has brought on board Nelson Wong as head of research for its Greater China operation and its local Hong Kong business, according to an announcement by the property consultancy.

Returning to JLL’s Hong Kong office after 15 years with Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and CBRE Global Investors, Wong is now tasked with leading the real estate services firm’s team of over 60 researchers across Greater China.

“We are pleased to welcome a strong talent such as Nelson back into our fold,” said Gavin Morgan, chief operating officer of Greater China and managing director at JLL in Hong Kong. “Our appointment of Nelson underlines our commitment to providing our clients with the best research in the industry.”

Morgan added that Wong’s “rigorous and forward-thinking approach” will advance the firm’s research products.

Wong’s appointment fills a void created by the October resignation of the firm’s former head of research in Hong Kong, Denis Ma. In another move in the same department, JLL this month promoted Cathy Huang to head of research for East China this month.

Bringing PE Experience to Research Role

Wong’s new appointment sees him returning to a firm that he first joined in as a Regional Economist in 1997 when the company was still known as Jones Lang Wooton. In 2000, the PhD graduate of Syracuse University in New York was promoted to Head of Research at the firm, where he was responsible for the company’s bespoke research consulting services and publications covering all real estate sectors until leaving JLL in 2004 to join Morgan Stanley as an equity analyst.

Wong now rejoins the NYSE-listed company after leaving CBRE Global Investors last year after 12 years with the private equity firm as a portfolio manager. Before joining CBRE GI, Wong had also served as an equity analyst with Deutsche Bank.

“JLL is proud to have a highly talented and powerful research team with an authoritative voice in the industry,” said Fung Kin-keung, Chief Executive Officer at JLL in Greater China. “With Nelson on board, we are assured that the team will not only meet the need for comprehensive research in real estate, but also seize exciting opportunities to grow in scope and depth.”