Savills Investment Management is continuing to expand its footprint in Asia Pacific, with the UK fund manager leading this week’s collection of personnel moves by naming a new head of its debt division for the region. Also making leadership changes are developer China Jinmao, which names a new chairman and Manulife which promotes a senior member of its Hong Kong team.
DRC Savills Investment Management has hired Steve Willingham as its head of Asia, effective from November, according to an announcement this past week. Willingham is joining the debt division of the UK real estate fund manager after more than eight years with HSBC’s global banking and markets division, where he has been serving most recently as global head of real estate finance, based in Hong Kong. In announcing the hire this past week DRC Savills highlighted the move as evidence of its commitment to Asia, with the firm soon launching a debt initiative focused on the Australian market.
China Jinmao Holdings said on 23 September that it has appointed Li Fanrong as a non-executive director and chairman of its board, effective that same day, replacing Ning Gaoning, who retired due to age requirements. Li, 59, has served as chairman of China Jinmao’s parent firm Sinochem Holdings Corporation since April 2021, and will now oversee the developer’s operations and portfolio of mainland investment properties, including Shanghai’s Jinmao Tower.
Kiki Lai has been promoted to managing director for real estate portfolio management in Asia for Manulife, according to an announcement this past week. Based in Hong Kong, Lai takes her step up after serving as senior director for Asia real estate investments with the Canadian insurer since 2018. In addition to her Manulife experience Lai spent three years as chief executive officer for Commerz Real Asia Pacific from 2014 through 2017 and also has previous experience with the capital markets team at CBRE in Hong Kong.
Xinyuan Property Management Service informed the Hong Kong stock exchange on 19 September that it has named Samuel Shen Yuan-Ching as an executive director and chairman of its board with effect from that same day. Shen had served as an independent, non-executive director on the board of the property services of developer Xinyuan Real Estate from 13 April and was named vice chairman on 29 August. Shen left his role as chief executive and chairman of data centre operator VNET Group earlier this month.
Colliers announced on 19 September that it has hired Kathy Lee as its head of research for Hong Kong with effect that same day. Lee joins the property consultancy from competitor Savills where she had spent more than 16 years, including working as a director with the UK-based firm, where she led a team providing retail consulting services to developers, landlords, government organisations and retailers, according to her LinkedIn profile.
JLL announced this month that it has appointed Helen Amos as head of sustainability for its Hong Kong operation. The new role is a promotion for Amos, who has been with JLL since 2020 serving as regional environmental sustainability lead. Prior to joining the property consultancy, Amos spent more than three years with engineering consultancy Cundall in Hong Kong where she served as principal sustainability consultant.
Clowie Tan has joined Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Singapore as director of residential property management with the Canadian firm. Tan takes on her new role after earlier spending two years as a co-founder of Relogo, a relocation and co-living startup in the city. The University of Southern California graduate also has previous experience with Savills Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels Group and was a co-founder of dining reservations platform Chope.
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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