A senior research appointment at CBRE, the passing of Hong Kong developer Carol Chow and a generational board change at the owner of the Peninsula Hotels lead this week’s look at personnel moves across Asia Pacific’s real estate industry. Departures from BGO, EC World REIT and Suntec REIT, a new chief executive at JLL Australia and New Zealand, and a data centre hire at Cushman & Wakefield also make the list.
Glyn Nelson has joined CBRE as executive director and head of capital markets research for Asia Pacific, based in Singapore, according to an announcement by the firm. Nelson brings more than 25 years of Asia Pacific real estate experience, joining from AEW where he spent 13 years, most recently as portfolio manager and previously as managing director of research and strategy. Nelson’s earlier roles include head of research and investment strategy at Aberdeen Asset Management and head of the real estate intelligence service for Asia at JLL, and he also has previous experience at CBRE as a research manager.
Carol Chow Pui-yin, 43, founder and chairwoman of Hong Kong property developer Lofter Group, died on 12 May 2026. Police are investigating and no note was found. Chow founded Lofter in 2012, building it into a developer with 26 completed projects spanning industrial revitalisation, commercial renewal and residential redevelopment by 2021, with total investment nearing HK$10 billion by 2023. The group faced severe financial pressure in recent years, with its One Bedford Place project in Tai Kok Tsui going into receivership in early 2024. If you or someone you know is struggling, the Samaritans Hong Kong 24-hour hotline is available at 852-2896-0000.
David Watt has stepped down as senior advisor at BGO in Hong Kong after 13 years with the firm, according to a LinkedIn post. With Watt having joined BGO through its acquisition of Hong Kong-based real estate investment manager InfraRed NF in April 2021, during his tenure at the two firms he oversaw the development and sale of Redbox self-storage in Hong Kong and other major investments. The 45-year industry veteran continues in advisory roles at Addington Capital and Pradera and as an independent non-executive director at recruitment firm Macdonald & Company.
Adrian Li, co-chief executive of Bank of East Asia, has been appointed an independent non-executive director of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, the Peninsula Hotels owner, according to an announcement to the Hong Kong stock exchange. The appointment coincides with the retirement of his father, Sir David Li, who steps down after 38 years on the board of the parent company of the Peninsula Hotel group to become senior adviser to the chairman. Two other independent directors were also appointed — Kalpana Desai, former head of Macquarie Capital Asia, and Philippe Ward, a hospitality investment veteran with prior roles at KSL Capital Partners and JLL Hotels & Hospitality.
Wang Feng, 51, is resigning as chief financial officer of the manager of Singapore-listed EC World REIT, effective 30 June 2026, to pursue personal interests, according to an SGX filing. Wang has served as CFO since October 2020. His departure is the fifth cessation of a senior appointment at the logistics and e-commerce REIT manager in the past 12 months, during which time the trust has faced severe distress including receivership proceedings, falling valuations and ongoing litigation over unauthorised mortgages on key China assets.
Dawn Lai Siok Fung is stepping down as chief operating officer of Suntec REIT manager Suntec Trust Management, effective 31 July 2026, after the company and Lai mutually agreed to part ways, according to an SGX filing. Lai has served as COO since October 2018, supporting the chief executive on portfolio management, investment, investor relations and strategic planning. Her departure is the seventh cessation of a senior appointment at the trust manager in the past 12 months, with Gordon Tang’s Acrophyte Asset Management having acquired Suntec Trust Management in a deal which closed in March. No successor has been named.
Selina Short has been appointed chief executive of JLL Australia and New Zealand, effective 11 May 2026, according to an announcement by the firm. Short joins from EY, where she spent 17 years, most recently as clients and industries managing partner and a member of the Oceania executive leadership team, and before that as head of EY’s built environment and resources practice covering real estate, construction, infrastructure and resources. Short also has previous experience in global capital markets at DTZ in London and succeeds Luke Billiau, who served as interim CEO for JLL in Australia and New Zealand for eight months.
Cushman & Wakefield has appointed Leon Ikeda as head of advisory and transactions for its Asia Pacific Data Centre Group, effective May 2026, according to a press release by the firm. Based in Singapore, Ikeda reports to Andrew Green, who joined C&W in January 2026 as head of the Asia Pacific Data Centre Group from JLL, where he had been regional data centre practice lead. Ikeda returns to C&W after operator-side roles at Equinix and MC Digital Realty (a Japan-specific joint venture between Mitsubishi Corporation and Digital Realty) where he led Japan and Korea acquisitions, and also has previous experience at C&W in Japan spanning 12 years.
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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