Asia Real Estate People in the News 2021-07-05

Asia’s real estate community has moved into the second half of 2021 with a flurry of personnel moves as a rebound in transactions sees developers and service providers eager to hire back some of the headcount lost during the pandemic.

Leading off our weekly round up of hirings and firings is a new top executive for Malayia’s sovereign fund and some board level moves at Singapore’s ESR-REIT and Hong Kong developer Wharf Holdings.

Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund has appointed a new boss with Khazanah Nasional Berhad having announced this past week that Dato’ Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir will take over the $31 billion dollar vehicle’s top spot as of 16 July. Now 51, Amirul Feisal assumes the managing director position being vacated by Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, who is leaving Khazanah Nasional to pursue personal interests. Prior to joining the sovereign fund, Amirul Feisal had served as chief financial officer of Maybank since 2016.

Singapore-listed ESR-REIT announced on 1 July that it has appointed Stefanie Yuen Thio as independent chairperson, succeeding Ooi Eng Peng. Thio, who has served as an independent director with the trust managed by Hong Kong-listed logistics giant ESR since 2019, is joint managing partner of boutique Singapore law firm TSMP Law Corporation, and added her new title effective 1 July. Prior to joining ESR REIT’s board two years ago, she had been a board member with ARA Asset Management-sponsored Cache Logistics Trust, which is now ARA Logos Logistics Trust. Ooi Eng Peng will be redesignated as a non-executive director with ESR-REIT where he will now serve in the newly created role of deputy chairman.

Wharf Holdings announced early last week that it has appointed Kevin Chung Ying Hui as a director of the company effective 1 July. Now 64, Hui is a fellow of the association of chartered certified accountants who has been with the Hong Kong real estate group chaired by billionaire Peter Woo since 1986. A council member of the Taxation Institute of Hong Kong, Hui served as a director of Wharf’s commercial unit, Wharf Real Estate Investment Co, until giving up that role to join the board of the parent firm.

David Shan has joined logistics developer and fund manager Logos as a regional general manager with its China operation, according to a LinkedIn update. Shan joins the Sydney-based warehouse specialist after more than three years with CBRE in Shanghai where he had served as a senior director with its industrial team. The City University of Hong Kong graduate also has previous experience with Cushman & Wakefield in Shanghai.

Kyu Baek Kim has taken on the role of head of acquisitions and development with Ovolo Hotels in Hong Kong, taking a step up after nearly three years as acquisition and development manager with the boutique hospitality chain. A graduate of the University of Hong Kong, Kim is now in charge of acquisition and development opportunities across Asia Pacific for Ovolo, and also has previous experience with hospitality investment consulting firm HVS.

Colliers International has appointed Kohei Kawai as its new head of research for Japan, according to an announcement by the firm. Reporting to Japan managing director Yukihiro Ogasawara, Kawai is expected to work closely with Colliers’ clients and internal stakeholders to support the company’s business in the country. Now a director with Colliers, Kawai joins the company from Japanese asset and property manager XYMAX, where he worked for the firm’s real estate research division.

Kate Low has been appointed as a senior director with the Australia desk of JLL’s International Capital division, according to an update on LinkedIn. Low rejoined the property consultancy this month in Singapore after having previously served with the same business unit from 2017 through 2019. The University of Technology, Sydney graduate also has previous experience with Chesterton International and Australia’s GPT Group.

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.