Major changes at Hong Kong-listed companies lead this week’s review of personnel moves around Asia, with a local builder seeing off its long-time CEO and industrial specialist ESR bidding farewell to the former boss of ARA Asset Management.
Lai Sun Development chief executive officer Julius Lau Shu Yan will be retiring from 1 March, after nearly twenty years leading the Hong Kong-based builder, according to an announcement to the HKEX this past week. Now 69, Lau will also be leaving his role as executive director and authorised representative of the company, with executive director Lester Lam taking over the representative position.
ESR Group announced to the Hong Kong stock exchange on 20 January that John Lim Hwee Chiang retired from his role as a non-executive director on the company’s board with effect from that date. Lim who had co-founded Singapore’s ARA Asset Management before the company was acquired by ESR in 2022 in a $5.2 billion deal, had served a three-year term on the board from completion of the takeover.
Warburg Pincus-backed developer and fund manager Qube Industrial Asset Management has brought on board JiEun (Jessica) Lee as a managing director with the Seoul-based firm, according to a LinkedIn update. Lee joins Qube after previously serving as a principal with KKR in Korea, and the New York University graduate also has previous experience with Gaw Capital Partners and Korea Investment Corporation.
Having recently established its first open-ended fund, student housing specialist, Scape Australia has brought on board former Nuveen executive Ben Taylor as fund manager for the vehicle, according to a LinkedIn update. Taylor joined the rental residential firm this month after a year and a half as chief investment officer and co-founder of startup Acacia Capital Partners. Earlier he had served as director of housing for Asia Pacific with Nuveen, and also has previous experience with AXA Investment Managers.
Fujian-based Powerlong Commercial Management Holdings notified the Hong Kong stock exchange on 21 January that its chairman and executive director, Hoi Wa Fong (pictured), ceased to act as chief executive of the company with effect from that date. Xu Meng, 42, has been appointed to take on the CEO role after joining the company the property management division of Powerlong Real Estate Holdings this month from rival Longfor Group, where he had served as general manager of eastern China.
JLL announced earlier this month that it has appointed James Cameron as head of energy and infrastructure for its Asia Pacific capital markets team, in a newly created role. Based in Singapore, Cameron is joining JLL after previously working as global head of commercial real estate for Standard Chartered, to lead the property consultancy’s energy and infrastructure services in the region.
Kian-Jin Khoo has joined Standard Chartered in Singapore as head of Southeast and South Asia with the bank’s private markets group, according to a LinkedIn post. Khoo took on his role with lender this month after more than two years as head of private wealth for Asia Pacific with the Asia Pacific capital markets team at JLL. The National University of Singapore graduate also has previous experience with a Singapore family office and with UBS.
Andy Wilianto has taken on a new role as regional property portfolio lead for Asia Pacific with the International Finance Corporation in Manila, according to a LinkedIn update. The veteran project manager started his new role with the unit of the World Bank last month and now leads corporate real estate for the IFC in region. Wilianto also has previous experience with Morgan Stanley, Manulife and Citi.
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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