Colliers Hires John Howald as Head of International Capital for APAC

Colliers International is further reinforcing its Singapore-based team with the hiring of John Howald as executive director and head of international capital for Asia Pacific.

Joining Colliers from JLL Japan, Howald will report to Terence Tang, managing director for capital markets and investment services in Asia. The new recruit will take responsibility for increasing cross-border investment activity in APAC and leading international client development, the Toronto-based property services firm said Monday in a release.

The latest appointment comes amid a flurry of recent people moves in key Asian markets as agencies start to replenish their executive ranks amid signs of a post-pandemic rebound.

“We are delighted to have an expert like John join our APAC capital markets team,” Tang said. “His experience in managing institutional client relationships and providing international investment advisory will help enhance our team’s capabilities and serve the evolving needs of our clients in the region. With his enterprising spirit, I am confident that John will exceed the expectations of our clients, leading our industry into the future.”

Big-Ticket Advice

Howald’s most recent role at JLL Japan was head of international investments for the capital markets division, a post he held for two and a half years. His Tokyo-based team gave assistance and advice to international capital on sourcing and managing commercial property investments.

After joining JLL Japan in late 2013 as director for international investments, Howald advised Secured Capital Investment Management, a unit of Hong Kong-based investment manager PAG, on its 2014 sale of the office component at the Pacific Century Place Marunouchi building to GIC. The Singaporean sovereign wealth fund paid $1.7 billion for the property connected to Tokyo Station, sources told Bloomberg.

Howald’s earlier experience includes various roles in New York and Tokyo at professional services firm Ernst & Young, where he spent eight years in real estate, hospitality and M&A advisory. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from the school of business at the University of Wisconsin.

“I am incredibly excited to be joining Colliers, the fastest-growing real estate services company in the world,” Howald said. “I look forward to working with the global capital markets leaders to deliver our strategy across the region and partner with key international clients to accelerate their success.”

Growing Singapore Roster

Also on Monday, Colliers announced the appointment of Melvin Chay as director for international capital in Asia Pacific, based in Singapore. Chay will work closely with Howald to attract international capital into Colliers’ key APAC markets, the agency said.

Colliers’ other appointments this month include Anson Lim as senior director of valuation and advisory for Singapore. Lim joined Colliers after more than three years with Kerry Properties affiliate Allgreen Properties, where he had served as senior general manager for residential marketing and sales.

Juvena Lim recently rejoined Colliers as director for valuation and advisory services in Singapore after a brief stint as an associate director at rival Edmund Tie. Also enjoying a reunion is Donald Goh, who left Colliers in 2005 and returned this month to fill the role of director for capital markets and investment services in the city-state.