APAC Real Estate People in the News 2026-06-01

The passing of Toshifumi Suzuki, the architect of the world’s largest convenience store network, leads this week’s look at personnel moves across Asia Pacific’s real estate industry, alongside a Keppel REIT CFO succession, the death of Hong Kong property billionaire Samuel Tak Lee, and a 5 per cent workforce reduction at Dexus. Leadership changes at the HOMA flexible living platform and UOA Development and new appointments at Fukuoka REIT and GIA round out the edition.

Toshifumi Suzuki, honorary adviser of Seven & i Holdings, passed away from heart failure on 18 May 2026 at the age of 93, according to an announcement by the company. Suzuki joined Ito-Yokado in 1963 and became president of Seven-Eleven Japan in 1978, before leading the Japanese acquisition of the American 7-Eleven chain from Southland Corporation in the early 1990s and building it into the world’s largest convenience store network. He served as chairman and chief executive of Seven & i Holdings from its establishment in 2005 until becoming honorary adviser in 2016.

Keppel REIT Management Limited has appointed Andy Gwee Wei Yong as chief financial officer, effective 3 July 2026, according to an announcement to the Singapore Exchange. Now 50, Gwee has served as lead financial controller of Keppel Capital International since June 2025, and previously served as CFO of Keppel-controlled KORE US REIT Management from 2017 to 2025 and as head of finance at Keppel DC REIT Management. He succeeds Sebastian Song Young Sun, aged 45, who will be leaving the REIT on the same date to pursue other opportunities.

Samuel Tak Lee, chairman of Hong Kong-based property group Prudential Enterprise and one of London’s most prominent private landlords, died at the age of 87, according to a report by The Telegraph. Lee built a sweeping West End property empire centred on the Langham Estate, more than 11 acres of the area’s Fitzrovia neighbourhood that he acquired in 1994 for £51 million. The Hong Kong tycoon sold a slice of that holding to US investor Elliott Management and Oval Real Estate for more than £300 million in 2023. In Hong Kong, Prudential Enterprise owns the Prudential Hotel in Kowloon.

Yuichi Shimazu has been nominated as a non-executive director of Fukuoka Realty, the asset manager of Fukuoka REIT Corporation, subject to shareholder approval at the company’s general meeting on 24 June 2026, according to a Tokyo Stock Exchange filing. Shimazu is currently president and CEO of Hankyu Ferry and brings a background spanning development finance and corporate strategy built over more than three decades at the Development Bank of Japan, where he rose to general manager of corporate strategy and later branch manager of the Kyushu branch. He succeeds Masanori Kozuma (pictured) as non-executive director.

Melanie Bourke is departing as chief operating officer of Dexus after 22 years with the firm, as the Australian real estate group eliminates the COO role as part of a  a cost-cutting campaign which includes a 5 per cent workforce reduction. Bourke joined Dexus in 2004, progressing through finance, the CEO office and head of office portfolio before her appointment as COO in September 2020. Her board seats at Dexus Industria REIT and Dexus Convenience Retail REIT will pass to Michael Sheffield, executive general manager of funds management.

Eric Schaffer has been appointed chief operating officer of HOMA, a flexible living and build-to-rent operator with more than 1,100 units across four properties in Thailand, backed by New York-based multifamily specialist ACRE. The appointment was announced alongside HOMA’s partnership with South Korea’s IGIS X Asset Management to launch a Korea build-to-rent platform. Schaffer brings more than 17 years of experience in operational real estate and technology, having previously served as CEO of Asia Pacific at flexible workspace technology firm essensys and as senior director and head of APAC real estate advisory at WeWork.

Mireille Wan has joined Singapore private equity real estate firm GIA as a consultant, according to a LinkedIn post by managing partner Gillian Chee. Wan brings experience in occupier markets across Asia, including a previous role heading CBRE in China, and subsequently spent five years at JLL in Singapore as senior director heading South East Asia occupier consulting and serving as joint APAC head for portfolio strategy. She founded real estate advisory and ESG consultancy MDW Consultancy in January 2025, which she continues to operate alongside her new role.

Kong Chong Soon, also known as CS Kong, co-founder and managing director of Malaysian listed developer UOA Development, passed away  on 27 May 2026 at the age of 85, according to a filing with Bursa Malaysia. Kong co-founded United Overseas Australia Ltd in 1987 alongside chairman Kong Pak Lim and built UOA into a major developer with landmark projects across Kuala Lumpur including the Bangsar South precinct. He earlier oversaw the construction of three major Singapore hotels. Kong Pak Lim will serve as managing director until a successor is appointed.

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.