A leadership transition at Barings leads Mingtiandi’s review of personnel moves from around Asia Pacific today as the asset manager’s head of real estate for the region takes on responsibility for the firm’s broader business. Also making our list this week are promotions at a Dutch pension fund manager and at a Malaysian sovereign fund.
Alastair Wright has taken over the role of head of Asia Pacific at Barings in addition to his title of head of real estate for the region. Based in Sydney, Wright’s appointment as APAC boss had first been announced by the US fund manager in November, with the 17-year company veteran taking over from retiring APAC head Duncan Robertson this month. Barings’ former head of Hong Kong and Taiwan, Eric Jan has also seen his role expand, taking on the titles of head of Greater Chain and Southeast Asia as well as chairman of Baring Asset Management for Asia.

Sarah Winbur has been promoted to director at APG Asset Management in Singapore, according to a LinkedIn update. Winbur takes her step up at the Dutch pension fund manager after more than three years as a senior portfolio manager, after the Durham University graduate first joined APG in 2018. Also this month, APG promoted Hong Kong-based senior investment analyst Malavika Nambiar to assistant portfolio manager.
Wendy Chen has been upgraded to senior vice president with the private funds group at Khazanah Nasional Berhad in Malaysia, after three years as a vice president with the sovereign wealth fund, according to a LinkedIn update. Before joining Khazanah Nasional Berhand in 2021 as an assistant vice president, Chen had spent more than six years with the Employees Provident Fund of Malaysia where she had served most recently as a deputy manager with the fund’s global real estate team.
Stuart Ross has taken the road less travelled, heading back to Shanghai after a six-year hiatus, to join Goodman as managing director in China’s commercial capital, according to a LinkedIn update. Ross joins the Australian industrial specialist after spending more than four years as a partner at Arrow Capital Partners in Sydney. Before spending 2020 in Singapore with JLL, Ross had led the company’s industrial team for China from 2008 through 2020.
Tim Nation has joined ESR Group as a senior director with the company’s capital markets team, based in Sydney, according to a LinkedIn update. Nation joins the developer and fund manager from local private equity firm Corval, where he had spent more than four years as head of institutional funds. The University of Tasmania graduate also has previous experience with AMP Capital in Sydney.
South Korea’s Koramco Asset Management said on 21 January that it has confirmed executive vice presidents Kim Tae-won and Yun Jang-ho as co-presidents and co-CEOs under its dual leadership structure. Having joined Koramco in 2016, Kim (pictured) has helped expand the company’s portfolio into digital infrastructure and large, mixed-used projects, while Yun has focused on growing the company’s domestic REIT business.
CapitaLand Investment has promoted Anderson (Byung Ho) Park to head of investment with its Korean business, based in Seoul, according to a LinkedIn update. Park moved into his new role this month after having joined the Singaporean group in 2024 as a manager with its investment and business development division. Park has previous experience with CBRE and Koramco REITs Management, according to his bio.
Colliers announced on 19 January that it has hired Theo Novak as a managing director with its Asia Pacific capital markets team, with Will Hamilton also joining as executive director for international capital. Based in Singapore, Novak joins Colliers after more than 14 years with JLL, where he had worked most recently as an executive director with the company’s APAC capital markets team. Based in Shanghai before moving to Singapore in 2013, Novak also has previous experience with DTZ (now Cushman & Wakefield).
If you know of other Asia Pacific real estate professionals changing their jobs, getting promoted or just doing something exciting, please contact us here at Mingtiandi.
Leave a Reply