John Kenny gets Colliers’ top APAC job after joining the company in 1991
Colliers International announced today that it has promoted its long-time Australia-New Zealand CEO John Kenny to its top position for Asia Pacific, after health concerns sidelined APAC chief executive David Hand in December.
In its statement today, Colliers said that Kenny is officially assuming the APAC CEO role effective immediately, with company chairman Jay Hennick commending the capabilities of his new helmsman for the region while wishing Hand a speedy recovery.
Kenny had taken over responsibility for the Asia Pacific CEO role in late December, after Hand announced in an internal memo that he would be taking an extended leave of absence from the Toronto-based property consultancy.
Targetting APAC Growth
“Colliers is the fastest growing real estate and investment management services company globally and accelerating our success in Asia Pacific, one of the most dynamic and rapidly expanding regions in the global economy, is very exciting,” said Jay Hennick, Global Chairman & CEO. “I’m confident John will take our business from strength to strength as he consolidates our recent acquisitions in India and China and continues to build industry-leading positions in some of the most important markets in the world.
Colliers in September had acquired an 80 percent controlling interest in Bangalore-based project management firm Synergy, with the deal stipulating that the management of the newly acquired firm would take the helm of the real estate service provider’s India operation.
Through the acquisition, Colliers more than tripled its India workforce to 1,400 professionals working across 16 offices, while enhancing its project management and design services in the country.
Company Veteran Takes Over APAC Region
Kenny has led Colliers’ Australia and New Zealand business since 2006, after first joining the company as a manager in the commercial department in 1991.
“Colliers is an enterprising company that attracts and develops industry leaders, empowering them to think and act differently as we lead the industry into the future,” said Kenny, with the company crediting its long-time executive with helping build Colliers into a dominant player in property services in Australia and New Zealand.
The new regional boss will continue to be based in Sydney, according to a Colliers spokesperson, while supporting the company’s growth across Asia Pacific.
Hand Takes Leave After Half-Decade
Colliers’ Hennick noted that he looks forward to welcoming Hand back to the company, after the industry veteran was sidelined by a cancer diagnosis last year.
Hand had joined Colliers as APAC CEO in June 2015 after 15 years at competitor JLL, where he had served as an International Director with the company’s capital markets division for Greater China, before being recruited by the Canadian firm.
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