A hotel investment veteran leads this week’s review of people moves around Asia, as Singapore’s Far East Hospitality selects new leadership. Also making the list is a top level pension fund hire in Canada and some competition for talent in real estate lending down in Singapore.
Far East Hospitality has promoted Mark Rohner to managing director designate, according to a LinkedIn update this past week. Rohner took his latest step up at the hotel division of Singapore’s Far East Organization after joining the firm in July last year as chief operating officer. Prior to joining Far East Hospitality, Rohner spent more than two years with Singapore investment manager Patience Capital Group, and also has previous experience with Frasers Hospitality Trust.
Oxford Properties Group announced this past week that Eric Plesman will join the company as president and chief executive officer from 3 November, replacing Daniel Fournier. Plesman rejoins the real estate investment division of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System after a four and a half year stint as head of global real estate with the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan. Prior to joining HOOPP in 2021, Plesman had spent more than a decade with Oxford and also has prior experience with Morgan Stanley.
Citigroup’s head of real estate and lodging for Asia Pacific, Jonathan Quek, is set to leave the US financial giant to join Jefferies Financial Group as head of real estate, gaming and lodging, according to a Bloomberg report this past week. Quek has spent more than 21 years with Citi in Singapore, including leading the regional real estate team since 2024. The Singapore Management University graduate also has been leading the bank’s ASEAN coverage.
After more than a decade with CapitaLand Group’s China business, Wenzheng Yeo has joined GIC as a senior vice president, according to a LinkedIn update. Before joining the Singaporean sovereign fund recently, Yeo had spent more than two and half years as managing director for China strategic investment with CapitaLand Investment, based in Shanghai. The Stanford University graduate also has previous experience with Mapletree Investments.
Frasers Property announced on 10 September that Thanapol Sirithanachai will be stepping down from his role as chief executive of the group’s Singapore business with effect from 1 October. Sirithanachai had led Frasers Thailand since June 2020 when he joined the firm through its acquisition of local developer Golden Land Property. Frasers’ CEO of emerging markets, LIm Hua Tiong will take on the additional role of head of the company’s Thailand business as part of the leadership change.
Tony Zhang Tao has joined Shanghai and Hong Kong Land Capital as managing director and head of real estate for China, according to a LinkedIn update. Zhang joined the investment division of Shanghai and Hong Kong Alliance Holdings after more than seven years with DNE Group in Shanghai, where he had served most recently as a vice president with responsibility for industrial park investment and operations.
Italian industrial developer Vailog has promoted Leo Xu to chief executive of its China business with effect from last month, according to a recent announcement by the company. With Xu taking over the CEO role, former chief executive Walter Qian has ascended to chairman of the warehouse developer’s China business. Xu has now been with Vailog China for more than 17 years, having served as vice president of marketing since 2008.
Savills announced on 8 September that it has appointed Emily Fell as a senior director with its Asia Pacific capital markets team. Based in Singapore, Fell will focus on the living sector in her new role, including mainstream rental housing, co-living, student housing, senior living and hotels. She joins Savills from rival Knight Frank in Singapore, where she had served as head of global capital strategies until June.
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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