With the real estate world getting ready for the sprint to the end of 2018, there are still a few professionals jockeying for new positions across Asia as we pass the mid-point in September. This week a CapitaLand veteran takes the top spot at the Singaporean giant’s international division, a real estate finance strategist quits his bank job to spend more time with toys and Baidu rearranges the people that want to make your home smarter. These moves and more await you below.
Gerald Yong is now Chief Executive Officer with CapitaLand International, after taking the helm at the overseas investment division of the Singaporean developer earlier this month, according to an update on the executive’s LinkedIn profile. Yong’s new role comes after the 10-year CapitaLand veteran spent just nine months as Deputy Chief Investment Officer with parent firm CapitaLand. Yong also previously served more than five years as Chief Investment Officer with CapitaLand’s serviced apartment division, The Ascott Limited.
Sherman Hung has left the real estate world to have a bit more fun, as the newly appointed Assistant CEO and CFO of Hong Kong-listed toy manufacturer and retailer Kidsland International Holdings Limited. Hung steps into his new role with the distributor of LEGO blocks and operator of over 200 toy stores after nearly four years as Real Estate and Strategic Coverage Head with DBS Bank in Hong Kong. The graduate of the University of Cambridge and University College London in the UK also has previous experience with Morgan Stanley.
Terry Zhao is now General Manager for GTM and Business Development for Baidu Smart Living Group, where he takes over the top level role after six months as Deputy General manager with the household AI division of China’s online search giant. Baidu announced the Internet of Things business initiative in April this year with the stated intent of applying artificial intelligence to daily household products. Zhao also has previous experience with Google and Amazon in China.
Sanjay Verma is now Regional CEO for Asia Pacific at G4S, based in Hong Kong. Verma took on his new role with the global security company this month after having served just under a year and a half as Regional President for Secure Solutions with the London-based firm. Prior to joining G4S in 2017, Verma had spent 15 years with property consultancy Cushman & Wakefield, where he at one time served as the firm’s CEO for Asia Pacific.
Rachel Lai has been promoted to Branch Manager with Hong Kong-based co-working startup Campfire, where she looks after the company’s Taikoo and Quarry Bay locations. Lai made the move up from Assistant Branch Manager last month after first joining Campfire in 2016 as a Community Host. Campfire had announced in July that it had raised $18 million in fresh funding to help expand its flexible real estate network across the region.
If your company has made a major new hire, if you’ve recently scored your dream job or if someone that you never really liked just got fired, please drop us a line here at Mingtiandi, and we will be happy to share your news with Asia’s real estate community.
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