Knight Frank Builds Overseas Project Marketing Team with Twin Hong Kong Hire

Global property consultancy Knight Frank is bringing a pair of cross-border sales specialists on board to market residential projects in the UK to buyers in Hong Kong. Mei Wong and Fiona Priest are joining the company’s Hong Kong office to lead the eight-person International Project Marketing team, with Wong taking the role of Executive Director and Head, and Priest reporting to her as a Director.

Wong and Priest both previously worked as directors at James Charles Partners, a real estate investment consultancy in Hong Kong. In her new role at Knight Frank, Wong will be reporting to Piers Brunner, CEO for Greater China.

With 20 years of relevant experience in Hong Kong, Wong will lead the team in promoting residential developments to Asia-based buyers, while also advising major investors and developers on new acquisitions. Priest will specifically oversee the team’s international project sales and marketing activities in Hong Kong, according to a statement.

Knight Frank Locks in on London and Other Places

“As the Hong Kong residential market continues to surge, there is an increasing number of investors choosing to invest overseas,” commented Brunner in the announcement. “London is best positioned in the UK region to take advantage from Brexit and benefit from the upturn currently underway in the global economy.”

“We believe more investors will look for investment opportunities that can generate a stable income stream and capital growth over the long run in mature and diverse property markets like London,” the executive added.

The statement indicates that Wong is tasked with marketing residential developments located around the world. In addition to its traditional focus on selling prime central London projects, Knight Frank’s International Project Marketing business line has expanded its scope to include developments throughout Europe and the US.

Wong has extensive experience working with international clients from her time at James Charles Partners and, previously, at Richard Li’s Pacific Century Premium Developments (PCPD) and Colliers International. Priest, who graduated from the University of Durham in the UK, has also worked at JLL and Colliers in Hong Kong.

Yi Cheng Leads Mainland China Team

Separately, Mingtiandi has learned that Knight Frank has changed the leadership of its International Project Marketing team in mainland China. Yi Cheng currently oversees the team as a director, based in Shanghai, according to a Knight Frank representative.

The leadership role was previously held by Bunny Wang, who was appointed as China Head of International Capital Markets and International Project Marketing in 2016. Wang left the company this month.

London-based Knight Frank has over 400 offices in 60 countries worldwide, and advises on more than $1.4 trillion worth of commercial, residential and agricultural real estate annually, including through its global affiliates.