Mingtiandi is finishing off 2025 with personnel updates from Japan, India and Singapore, including Hines unifying leadership of its Japan business under a former ProLogis executive. Also making our review of HR moves this week is a new managing director at Blackstone in India and the departure of the lead independent director at Singapore-listed Dasin Retail Trust.
Hines announced on 26 December that Saiko Ishii has assumed the role of head of Japan for the company, taking full responsibility for leadership of the developer and fund manager’s business in Asia’s second largest economy as former co-head Jon Tanaka focuses on his responsibilities as head of Asia Pacific. Ishii had joined Hines in 2023 as head of the company’s acquisitions unit after previously serving as chief investment officer of Prologis REIT. She was promoted to co-head of Japan in mid-2024 when Tanaka took over the top APAC role from Ray Lawler.
Blackstone has promoted Siddharth Nawal to managing director with its India real estate division, according to a LinkedIn update by the 10-year company veteran. Nawal took his step up earlier this month after four years as a principal with Blackstone’s real estate team in Mumbai and also serves as a non-executive, non-independent director on the manager of Nexus Select Trust, a Blackstone-sponsored retail REIT.
Guy Bradley has been named chairman and executive director of Cathay Pacific Airways and Swire Coca-Cola with effect from 13 May 2026, according to an announcement to the Hong Kong stock exchange this past week, adding to his responsibilities as chairman of publicly listed Swire Pacific and Swire Properties as well as of private investment firm John Swire and Sons. Bradley, who joined Swire Group in 1987, takes over the leadership roles from Patrick Healy, who will be retiring from the Hong Kong-based conglomerate after 37 years.
Tan Huay Lim has resigned from his role as an independent, non-executive director on the board of Dasin Retail Trust after nine years on the REIT’s board, according to an announcement to the Singapore stock exchange on 19 December, with his departure taking effect from 22 December. As lead independent director and head of the REIT’s audit and risk committee, Tan had been sued by one of the three brothers controlling the sponsor of Dasin Retail Trust in 2023, after the former KPMG partner was involved in work which uncovered illicit mortgages of properties belonging to the trust by the REIT’s China-based sponsor.
Jingrui Holdings informed the Hong Kong stock exchange on 24 December that Hong Ting has resigned from her role as an independent, non-executive director on the developer’s board with effect from 28 December. Now 39, Hong had joined Jingrui’s board on 31 December of last year and chaired the audit committee. She is said to be leaving due to other business commitments and her departure puts Jingrui’s board below the minimum number of independent, non-executive directors required under Hong Kong law, with the company indicating that it is currently searching for replacement candidates.
The head of Bank of China’s Zhejiang branch has become the latest head of state-owned lender in the wealthy coastal province to fall under investigation by authorities, with Cheng Jun having been unreachable since 23 December, according to a report by mainland business news site Caixin. Cheng’s disappearance is believed to be linked to the collapse of Goldin Financial Holdings, which was a major Bank of China customer.
Michael Juniper was promoted to chief executive officer at DigiCo Infrastructure REIT earlier this month, taking top responsibility for the ASX-listed data centre trust. Juniper had joined the REIT sponsored by Sydney’s HMC Capital as a director in September, after previously spending close to a decade at AirTrunk, where he had worked most recently as deputy chief executive and an executive director on the company’s board.
Chris Favretto has been promoted to director of investment at Cabot Properties in Sydney, according to a LinkedIn update. Favretto took on his new responsibilities this month after more than three years with the US-based logistics developer and fund manager. Prior to joining Cabot in 2022 as vice president for investment, Favretto had spent nearly six years with the capital transactions team at Lendlease.
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.
