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Appointment bolsters next stage in the strategy’s growth
HONG KONG/ SINGAPORE, 28 April 2023 – M&G Real Estate (M&G) today announced the appointment of Jason Leong as Deputy Fund Manager of its flagship core Asia Pacific property strategy, the oldest and largest open-ended core strategy in the region, as it prepares for its next stage of growth. Based in Singapore, Jason reports to Richard van den Berg, Manager of the strategy. Together with Richard, Jason will support the performance and growth of the strategy.
Jason brings more than 25 years of real estate investment and management experience in Asia Pacific, including key markets such as Australia, Japan and Singapore where he worked for various multinational organisations. Most recently, he was Group Executive & Head of Investment Management at Investa in Sydney, responsible for the group’s fund management, separate mandates and asset management businesses with AUM of A$12 billion. During his 11 years there, he managed their flagship core wholesale office fund from 2016 to 2020. He raised over A$1.8 billion in new equity between 2017 to 2020, growing the fund from A$4 billion to over A$6 billion. He also completed several key transactions including 60 Martin Place, a premium office development in Sydney and executed Australia’s first green loan and Australia’s second green bond. Prior to Investa, Jason held senior positions at LaSalle Investment Management and New City Corporation.
Jing Dong (JD) Lai, Chief Executive and Chief Investment Officer of M&G Real Estate Asia, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jason to M&G. With his track record and wealth of experience in managing core strategies and real estate investing, we are confident that Richard and Jason will continue to deliver stronger and more sustainable value for our investors.’’
Richard van den Berg, Fund Manager added, “Since its inception 17 years ago, the strategy has not only grown in size but also in the complexity of its portfolio across Asia Pacific, making Jason’s appointment timely as we look to further bolster the strategy’s growth and resilience.”
Jason Leong, Deputy Fund Manager, Asia, commented, “I am thrilled to join M&G Real Estate’s Asia team as the business continues to grow and expand. Asia remains an exciting region with valuable investment opportunities across asset classes in the real estate space for us to uncover and capture. I look forward to contributing to the firm’s comprehensive real estate strategy and identifying compelling opportunities for our long-term investors seeking exposure in this region.”
The core Asia Pacific Property strategy is the oldest and largest open-ended core strategy in the region. The strategy focuses on well-located prime assets across developed markets in Asia Pacific that are underpinned by structural and demographic trends, with an objective to create a diversified portfolio of high quality, and sustainable properties in key sectors such as logistics and residential, while strategically acquiring premium grade offices in gateway cities. Year to date, M&G has increased its stake in ESR Ichikawa Distribution Centre in Japan making it the majority stakeholder of the property and acquired four industrial properties in Singapore from auto distributor Jardine Cycle & Carriage.