JLL Names Theo Novak Head of International Investments for Greater China

Property consulting firm JLL has stepped up its efforts to serve cross-border real estate investors in the region with the company indicating to Mingtiandi today that it has appointed veteran capital markets broker Theo Novak as Head of International Investments for Greater China.

In the newly created role within JLL’s Capital Markets team, Novak will be responsible for facilitating cross-border real estate investments into Greater China and North Asia, in addition to his current duties fostering the company’s equity and debt fund raising services on behalf of investors.

As Novak relocates to Hong Kong from his current post in Singapore for the new role, JLL has hired former GIC executive Matthias Hoffman as a Senior Director with its Capital Markets team in Tokyo.

Looking After Investors From Hong Kong

In his expanded role Novak will continue to report to Stuart Crow, CEO of JLL’s Asia Pacific Capital Markets, while working alongside China Capital Markets head Jim Yip and the company’s Capital Markets team in Hong Kong.

“Theo’s appointment is a reflection of our global capital markets strategy to provide investor clients with a broader range of services and deeper insights into local markets,” Crow said. “Having previously worked for JLL in Shanghai and Singapore, Theo’s expertise will help our international clients access cross-border opportunities in Greater China and assist the team in the execution of major investment sales, joint ventures and capital partnerships.”

In addition to looking after cross-border deals, Novak, who joined JLL in Shanghai in 2011, will also be looking after relationships with Hong Kong-based institutional investors on behalf of the Chicago-based firm.

Adding to the Japan Team

At the same time that JLL brings Novak into its Hong Kong squad, the company is adding Hoffman to its Japan operation in another newly created role, where he will report to John Howald, Head of International Capital Markets for Japan.

The graduate of the University of Hong Kong and the Tuck School at Dartmouth College in the US will be tasked with establishing capital partnerships with clients and facilitating inbound real estate investments into Japan, according to JLL.

Before joining JLL, Hoffman spent more than three years in Hong Kong as a Senior Vice President with the Peterson Group after leaving GIC in 2015.

“We’re delighted to welcome Matthias on board, particularly at a time when institutional investors continue to increase their allocations to real estate,” JLL’s Crow said. “Our clients outside of Asia are looking for ways to diversify their portfolios globally and we’re confident that Theo and Matthias are well-placed to help them navigate the real estate landscape in this region.”