A sudden change in leadership at a major mainland commercial developer leads this week’s collection of personnel moves from around Asia Pacific’s real estate industry as China Jinmao bids farewell to its chairman. Also making the list is a CapitaLand executive joining the board of a Japanese hotel REIT and a veteran investment manager finding a new role in Tokyo.
China Jinmao Holdings announced to the Hong Kong stock exchange on 11 March that Zhang Zenggen has resigned as chairman and executive director of the Beijing-based developer with effect from that date. Zhang had been at the helm of the state-owned builder since June 2023 and with his departure, Tao Tianhai, an executive director of the company, will take over the chairman role.
Japan Hotel REIT notified the Tokyo stock exchange on 14 March that the manager of the listed trust has resolved to propose the appointment of Ascott Ltd chief executive Kevin Goh as a director on its board. Goh’s nomination follows the closing this past week of CapitaLand Investment’s purchase of a 40 percent stake in Singapore’s SC Capital Partners, which controls the manager of Japan Hotel REIT. The Ascott Ltd operates as the lodging sector unit of CapitaLand Investment.
William Johnson has joined Barings as a senior director for investment with the investment manager’s Asia Pacific real estate team, according to a LinkedIn announcement. Based in Tokyo, Johnson joins the Barings team after ten years with Savills Investment Management where he had worked most recently as an investment director and portfolio manager after first joining the company in 2015 as an associate director.
Mitsubishi Estate Logistics REIT Investment Corporation declared to the Tokyo exchange on 14 March that its executive director, Ken Takanashi (pictured), has resigned from the company with effect from 31 March. With Takanashi’s departure, the manager of Mitsubishi Estate Logistics REIT is appointing Kazuyuki Takeda, the company’s alternate director, as executive director from 1 April.
Mitsui Fudosan Logistics Park announced on 14 March that its asset management affiliate, Mitsui Fudosan Logistics REIT Management Co has resolved to nominate Akihiko Maruyama as a director of the Tokyo-listed REIT with effect from 31 March. Having first joined Mitsui Fudosan in 1993, Maruyama would be replacing Morio Shibata, who will retire from the REIT manager on 31 March.
The manager of Japan Excellent REIT notified the Tokyo exchange on 13 March that its asset manager, Japan Excellent Asset Management Co, proposes to appoint Takashi Nakai as director and chief investment officer with effect from 1 April. Nakai is taking over the roles from Kenji Fujiwara who also serves as general manager of the company’s real estate investment department and is resigning from 31 March.
Saarang Ganapathi has been promoted to chief executive officer with Embassy Services, the property management division of Bengaluru-based real estate giant Embassy Group, according to a LinkedIn update. Ganapathi took on his new responsibilities last month after just over a year as chief operating officer of Embassy Services, and has now been with the company for more than six years.
JJ Poon has been promoted to vice president for capital markets and corporate development at RealTerm in Singapore, according to a LinkedIn update. Poon took his step up at the logistics developer and investment manager after serving more than two years as an associate vice president with the same division. Now with RealTerm for more than three years, Poon also has previous experience with JLL.
If you know of other Asia real estate professionals changing their jobs, getting promoted or just doing something exciting please contact us here at Mingtiandi.
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