This week Colliers says goodbye to its APAC CEO, a Canadian pension fund finds a new APAC boss, DTZ may need new leadership in project management and more, as Asia’s real estate professionals continue to move up, over and out. Read on for details…
Piers Brunner has resigned from his position as CEO of Asia at Colliers International. A veteran of 20 years with the property consultancy, Brunner was the firm’s managing director for Hong Kong from 2002 to 2008 before moving up to run the Asia operation that year. In an email to Colliers staff, Brunner explained his departure by saying that, “I want to take a well-earned break and spend time with the family and on personal business ventures.” He indicated that he would remain with the operation for an unspecified period as part of the transition, and Brunner told Mingtiandi that he would be staying in Hong Kong for a while yet, “but definitely not in any sort of suit.”. 15-year industry veteran Paul Baxter joined Colliers from CBRE in June as the consultancy’s APAC COO.
Edouard Merette has joined Canadian pension fund manager La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec as Managing Director for the fund’s Asia Pacific operations. In a statement, La Caisse indicated that it expects Merette will “establish and maintain close relationships with players in the public and private sectors to make La Caisse a first-choice investor in the region.” Before joining La Caisse, the native Quebecer was Chief Executive Officer, Asia-Pacific, with HR consulting firm Aon Hewitt.
Anthony Ng has resigned from his position as Head of DTZ’s Project Management and Building Consultancy division for North Asia and will be leaving the company at the end of this month. Ng has been running the real estate service provider’s project management division from its office in Shanghai since the end of 2011, and his departure is said to be amicable. Private equity firm TPG officially acquired DTZ from Australian construction conglomerate UGL in June and has already appointed a new CEO. Ng cited personal reasons for his departure from DTZ and is said to currently be considering other opportunities.
Jonathan Rideout has resigned from his position as Senior Director at Colliers International in Shanghai where he had built up a leading practice as a business park leasing broker during his six years with the real estate agency. Market rumour has it that Rideout will be joining rival DTZ, which is currently striving to rebuild its team after the recent ownership changes. Rideout also has experience working with JLL in Shanghai.
Andrew Chan is now Head of Real Estate and Private Equity at Arris Partners Limited. Chan joins the specialist advisory firm from Tan-Eu Capital where he had spent approximately one year with the is a real estate investment arm of Shui On Construction & Materials Ltd after joining from BNP Paribas Investment Partners, where he had served as the firm’s CIO for Private Real Estate. Chan also has experience with Fortis, Merrill Lynch and AIG.
Irene Jin has joined Colliers International in Shanghai as an Associate Director with the real estate consultancy’s office leasing team. Jin comes to Colliers from rival agency Cushman & Wakefield where she had been with the firm’s office leasing team for just over three years. Jin specialises in business planning, due diligence, marketing strategy in her work on the tenant representation side of the business.
Jorja Camerlengo has been promoted to the role of Associate Director for Risk & Compliance with the Valuation and Advisory Services team at CBRE Asia Pacific. Based in Hong Kong, Camerlengo had previously served as a Senior Manager with the valuations team at CBRE for more than a year, after joining from Ernst & Young in Australia. Camerlengo holds a master’s degree from RMIT in Melbourne.
Josephine Li has joined the Business Development team with Dunkin’ Brands in Shanghai. Li comes to the US fast food chain, which markets Dunkin’ Donuts as well as Baskin-Robbins, from Claire’s Accessories, where she had spent just over a year as a Site Development Manager. Li also spent one year with Inditex, the parent company for Zara, as an Expansion Manager, and over a year and a half on the Retail Consulting team with Cushman & Wakefield.
Yolander Lau has been promoted to Assistant Manager for Planning and Development at the Hong Kong Housing Society. Lau was promoted from Senior Officer with the Hong Kong government agency after more than three years on the job. In her role she is responsible for planning and development, financial modelling, valuation, sales & marketing, and real estate investment.
As usual, if you know of other China real estate professionals changing their jobs, getting promoted or just doing something exciting, please feel free to share with the rest of the community here at Mingtiandi.
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