Keppel REIT Management Names Paul Tham as CEO

Keppel REIT Management Limited on Friday introduced Paul Tham as the new CEO of the manager of Singapore-listed Keppel REIT, according to an announcement by the company.

Tham, who has been with the Singapore government-linked conglomerate for nearly four years is scheduled to take over the top management role with the company on January 1^st of the new year.

The appointment makes the one-time management consultant the latest new face at the top levels of the S$8.5 billion ($6.2 billion) real estate investment trust since it underwent a burst of turnover in early 2017.

Deputy Steps Up the Top Job

“Paul has been identified and groomed as part of Keppel REIT’s succession planning initiative,” Penny Goh, Chairman of Keppel REIT Management said in a statement. “He was involved in the management of Keppel REIT’s business operations since his appointment as Deputy CEO early this year.” Tham’s appointment remains subject to regulatory approval.

Tham currently serves as Deputy CEO of Keppel REIT Management Limited, as well as holding the title of Chief Financial Officer for Keppel Capital, the asset management arm of the group which started life as Singapore’s biggest shipyard operator.

The graduate of Cornell University and Singapore Management University has been with Keppel Group since 2014 and became CFO of Keppel Capital in 2016. Tham took on the role of Deputy CEO at Keppel REIT Management on 1 February of this year.

Schooled as a structural engineer, Tham was part of Keppel Corporation’s Group Strategy and Development team, where he played a key role in the formation of Keppel Capital, according to the company. Before joining Keppel, Tham served as a management consultant for Bain & Company in Singapore from 2010 to 2014.

S-REIT Hopes to Calm Management Turnover

The 36-year-old succeeds long-time Keppel executive Tan Swee Yiow, who will become CEO of the group’s development arm, Keppel Land with effect from 1 January 2019.

Tan stepped back in as Chief Executive Officer at Keppel REIT Management at the beginning of March 2017 after Jesline Goh served just 28 days in the company’s top role. Former CEO Ng Hsueh Ling had left Keppel REIT Management at the end of January 2017.

Penny Goh took over the chair at Keppel REIT Management from Dr Audrey Chin Wei-Li in April of last year.