Hongkong Land appoints Singapore-based Mapletree’s Michael Smith as CEO
- Smith is currently the regional CEO for Europe and the US at Singapore-based global real estate investment company Mapletree
- Robert Wong, who has been Hongkong Land’s CEO since 2016, will stay on as a senior adviser to ensure a smooth leadership transition
Hongkong Land Holdings, the largest landlord in the city’s Central business district, has appointed Mapletree Investments’ Michael Smith as CEO.
Smith, who is currently the regional chief executive for Europe and the United States at Singapore-based Mapletree, a global real estate development, investment, capital and property management company with more than US$55 billion in assets under management, will take over the role from April 1 next year, Hongkong Land said on Tuesday.
Smith will relocate from Singapore to Hong Kong with his wife and children.
“Michael brings a proven track record in real estate investment and capital allocation,” Ben Keswick, Hongkong Land’s chairman, said in a statement. “He has grown organisations by being an inspirational and caring people leader.
“Building on Hongkong Land’s pre-eminent capabilities, reputation and portfolio, I have every confidence Michael will evolve our business – ensuring we continue to invest, manage and develop prime commercial, retail and mixed-use assets, while at the same time, positioning the group for long-term sustainable growth in China and other key Asian markets.”
Hongkong Land is very closely linked to the Central business district, having lobbied Hong Kong’s former colonial government for the reclamation of 65 acres of seafront land from Victoria Harbour. Its “Central Reclamation” project gave the district its name.
