Weekly roundup of people news, Dec 22
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Editor's note: This is the last edition of the weekly roundup of people news for 2023. Publication will resume on January 12, 2024. We wish our readers a happy holiday season.
HKEX NAMES FIRST WOMAN CEO IN LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) appointed Bonnie Chan Yiting as chief executive of HKEX, effective May 24, 2024, for a term of three years until May 23, 2027.
Chan will become HKEX’s first woman CEO. She will also become an ex-officio member of the board effective May 24, 2024.
She returned to HKEX as head of listing in January 2020 and is currently co-chief operating officer of HKEX.
Prior to joining HKEX, she was a partner of Davis Polk and Wardwell LLP.
Current CEO Nicolas Aguzin has decided not to seek reappointment at the end of his current contract in May 2024 and will step down.
Under Aguzin’s leadership, HKEX opened new offices in New York and London and helped to deliver and enhance a series of products and platforms, including the growth in derivatives and ETF markets.
HKEX also appointed CEO of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Wilfred Yiu Ka Yan as deputy CEO of HKEX, effective May 24, 2024.
Yiu will continue to act as the co-chief operating officer (COO) of HKEX.
Yiu will continue to hold positions as the CEO of both The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Futures Exchange, which are direct wholly owned subsidiaries of HKEX.
In addition, Vanessa Lau Bik Yun was appointed co-COO of HKEX effective May 24, 2024.
Lau will continue to act as the group chief financial officer of HKEX. She joined HKEX in October 2015.
OMERS'S REAL ESTATE UNIT EXECUTIVE JOINS ESR BOARD
Joanne McNamara, a seasoned executive from Oxford Properties Group, will take on the role of non-executive director at ESR Group Limited starting January 1, 2024.
Her appointment to ESR's board is a strategic move that aligns with Oxford Properties' interests, given their cornerstone investment in ESR's 2019 IPO.
Oxford Properties is the real estate arm of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS).
McNamara, based in London, is executive vice president for Europe and Asia at Oxford Properties.
ESR, with operations across the Asia Pacific's major markets, will draw on McNamara's insights for its strategic initiatives.
McNamara is also on the board of M7, a company under Oxford's umbrella.
BlackRock named industry veteran Stephen Allan as the new head of Australasia private credit based in Sydney.
Allan will report directly to Celia Yan, the head of APAC private credit.
Allan will lead the charge in private credit investment origination and management in Australia and New Zealand.
His addition is poised to enhance BlackRock's global private debt platform, which has $84 billion in assets under management.
His previous tenure includes significant roles at Nomura and Lloyds International.
LINK AM HIRES FORMER BLACKROCK EXECUTIVE AS GROUP CIO
Link Asset Management, manager of Link Real Estate Investment Trust, appointed John Saunders as group chief investment officer with effect from March 4, 2024.
In this newly created role, Saunders will be responsible for Link’s overall investment strategies, portfolio management and the strategic development of the investment business.
He will report to George Hongchoy, Link’s CEO.
Saunders was previously with BlackRock as head of Asia Pacific real estate and global head of the real estate client business.
He was also sole portfolio manager for the Asia Value Add Fund Series (currently Fund V in the series) and was portfolio manager for BlackRock's Asia Core Fund I (Asian Spezialfond).
He previously worked for CLSA and Hongkong Land.
FARRO VENTURES EXPANDS INTO THE MIDDLE EAST
Farro Ventures, parent company of Singapore-headquartered multi-family office Farro Capital, is expanding its footprint in the Middle East with a new office in Dubai.
The office, located in Dubai International Financial Centre, will offer access to wealth management solutions spanning investment management, philanthropy advisory, estate planning and succession.
Rajiv Garg, co-founder and managing director, together with Vincent Valadares, managing director, will lead Farro Capital’s Dubai operations.
The United Arab Emirates has built a strong reputation as a key financial hub for ultra-high net worth individuals and families in recent years, with the region’s family office market estimated to reach more than $1 trillion by 2026, a statement from Farro Capital said.
GAW CAPITAL NAMES AUSTRALIA HEAD
Private equity firm Gaw Capital Partners appointed Oliver Yates as head of Australia.
Yates will lead the strategic expansion of Gaw Capital in Australia with a focus on investments in climate tech and the energy transition, leveraging his considerable network and expertise in the sector.
Yates is a veteran senior executive of Macquarie Group and chief executive of Clean Energy Finance Corp (CEFC).