In this week’s edition of People in the News, a boardroom succession takes shape at Hong Kong multinational HKRI, the third generation at New World Development gains a seat on the HSBC board, and WeWork in Singapore announces a pair of management hirings.
Victor Cha has been appointed executive chairman of Hong Kong developer HKR International (HKRI) after the death of his older brother, Payson Cha, in early November. Cha was appointed as an executive director of the family-controlled company in 1989 before becoming managing director in 2001 and vice chairman in 2007. He no longer serves in those two posts, as Cha’s sister Madeline Wong Cha has been appointed as non-executive vice chairman and Tang Moon Wah has been named managing director.
Sonia Cheng has been named an independent non-executive director at HSBC in Hong Kong. Cheng is the daughter of billionaire Hong Kong property developer Henry Cheng, whose father founded New World Development. Sonia Cheng’s other posts include chief executive of Rosewood Hotel Group, executive director of New World Development and executive director of New World China Land. She earned a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics with a concentration in economics from Harvard University.
Marco Meng has been appointed head of property and asset management at Savills China, based in Shanghai. After joining Savills in 2005, Meng served as head of property and asset management for East China before his promotion to the new position. Savills also announced two other appointments: Paul Cheng as head of property and asset management for South China, and Judy Zhang as head of property and asset management for Beijing.
Remmy Anderson Bernard has been named head of building operations for the Pacific region at WeWork, based in Singapore. Bernard’s previous experience includes management posts at CBRE and Knight Frank, and he also spent 13 years at Shell Real Estate in various capacities. He holds an MBA from the University of East London Royal Docks Business School and a civil engineering degree from the Federal Institute of Technology.
Aine Dempsey has been named marketing director for the Pacific region at WeWork, based in Singapore. Dempsey most recently served as group marketing director for restaurant and club operator Ce La Vi in Singapore for two years. Her previous experience includes marketing posts at Aqua Restaurant Group, Fortnum & Mason, Galvin Restaurants and Beach Blanket Babylon. She is a graduate of the University of West London with a bachelor’s degree in creative advertising.
Eric Chong has stepped down as associate director for research at Cushman & Wakefield in Hong Kong. Before serving in that post for two years and as senior manager for research for one and a half years, Chong spent four years in research roles at JLL. He has a bachelor’s degree in management science from the University of California, San Diego. Chong’s LinkedIn profile states that he is “currently on garden leave”.
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