Tom Woolhouse Joins JLL in Singapore to Lead APAC Industrial Team

With warehouse properties continuing to grow in importance as an asset class, JLL’s regional operation is devoting some fresh resources to the sector, according to an announcement this week.

The global real estate consultancy on Tuesday announced the appointment of Tom Woolhouse as head of logistics, industrial and supply chain for Asia Pacific, a newly created post based in Singapore.

Woolhouse, most recently of CBRE in London, will be responsible for expanding and enhancing JLL Asia Pacific’s capabilities across the entire value chain of the logistics and industrial sector, the company said in a release. He will also sit on JLL’s Global Industrial Board, which sets global strategy for the firm’s three operating regions (Americas, EMEA and APAC).

According to JLL research, more than 80 percent of investors expect to increase allocations into the logistics and industrial sector in 2021.

“Demand for logistics transactional advisory and supply chain consultancy services will grow as Asia Pacific continues to evolve and mature at a rapid pace,” said Anthony Couse, CEO of JLL Asia Pacific. “Tom’s experience will provide a new perspective to our clients in this region, adding depth to our service offering. This will ensure we continue to respond to our clients’ needs across a range of business lines and geographies.”

Made in England

From March 2017 to this year, Woolhouse served as senior director in charge of CBRE’s industrial and logistics capital markets team in London. He brings experience in advising clients on the acquisition, disposal, development and funding of single assets and portfolios in the UK industrial and logistics market.

JLL aims to tap the extensive global network Woolhouse brings to the new role. He has engaged with a diverse range of global capital sources, including institutions, private equity firms, property companies, high-net-worth individuals, REITs, developers and occupiers.

Before joining CBRE, Woolhouse was a partner at property consultancy Montagu Evans, jointly running the business space team. He began his career in 2002 as an investment surveyor at Knight Frank in London and later had stints at Lewis Ellis and Hartnell Taylor Cook.

A graduate of the University of the West of England in Bristol, Woolhouse holds a bachelor’s degree in valuation and estate management.

Poised for Further Growth

Logistics, the breakout performer of COVID-wracked 2020, is likely to enjoy continued growth this year, boosted by rising internet penetration in Asia Pacific and the expansion of online grocery and omnichannel retailing. APAC is set to account for 50 percent of global e-commerce logistics by 2024, according to JLL’s outlook for Asia Pacific capital markets released this month.

JLL noted that among investors it has worked with — which boast $1.8 trillion in assets under management — 81 percent plan to increase their exposure to logistics in 2021.

“Tom’s arrival will provide an unrivalled layer of advisory expertise to our clients as they expand into this rapidly evolving asset class,” said Stuart Crow, CEO of Asia Pacific capital markets at JLL.