(SINGAPORE) – Hines, a leading global real estate investment manager, has announced the promotion of Kian Fong Lim to Chief Operating Officer, Real Estate, Asia Pacific, effective immediately. He will continue as Head of Singapore and Southeast Asia, responsible for the firm’s activities in Singapore and Vietnam.
In his expanded role, Lim will oversee real estate operations across administration, asset management, and property management throughout Hines’ Asia Pacific portfolio, while continuing to drive acquisitions, development, and new business generation in Singapore and Southeast Asia.
This promotion reflects Hines’ commitment to elevating its deep bench of talent and strengthening leadership across key markets as it prepares for its next phase of accelerated growth.
“As we look to the future, we’re proud to see leaders like Kian Fong step into expanded roles,” said Steve Luthman, Global Head of Real Estate at Hines. “Our people are our greatest asset, and their development reflects the strength of our platform and culture – hallmarks of a high-performing organization.”
“Kian Fong brings a unique blend of cultural fluency and regional expertise in capital raising and portfolio management, supported by years of executing complex transactions,” said Jon Tanaka, Head of Asia Pacific at Hines. “With over a decade leading real estate investments in Japan, Singapore, and Southeast Asia, and his fluency in English, Mandarin, and Japanese, he is well-positioned to drive performance and unlock value across our Asia Pacific portfolio.”
Lim’s promotion follows other leadership transitions, including Ray Lawler’s move to Head of Americas and Tanaka’s appointment as Head of Asia Pacific. Based in Singapore, Lim joins Chris Rector, Chief Operating Officer, Real Estate, Americas, who is located in Houston.
In July 2024, Hines embarked on a strategic evolution to position itself for long-term growth. This has strengthened the firm’s ability to deliver value through its globally focused, vertically integrated model, spanning investment, development, and property management.
“Our integrated platform allows us to seamlessly coordinate every stage of a real estate project, from deal sourcing to asset management,” added Luthman. “In today’s macro environment, asset management is where we can create real alpha. Our ability to manage assets effectively as market conditions evolve is a core strength that sets us apart.”
Hines maintains a strong and growing presence in Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, and other markets. The firm continues to drive sustained value and growth through a strong pipeline of development and acquisition opportunities through flagship funds and direct investments.
In addition to Tanaka and Lim, the Asia Pacific leadership team includes David Warneford as Head of Australia and New Zealand, Saiko Ishii as Co-Head of Japan, Harry Lee as Head of Korea, Amit Diwan as Head of India, and Tina He as Head of Greater China. Together, they lead Hines’ continued expansion across the region’s diverse and dynamic markets.
About Hines
Hines is a leading global real estate investment manager. We own and operate $90.1 billion¹ of assets across property types and on behalf of a diverse group of institutional and private wealth clients. Every day, our 5,000 employees in 30 countries draw on our 68-year history to build the world forward by investing in, developing, and managing some of the world’s best real estate. To learn more, visit www.hines.com and follow @Hines on social media.
ÂąIncludes both the global Hines organization and RIA AUM as of December 31, 2024.