CBRE Investors Tokyo head quits to join Ajia Partners

Steven Bass has resigned from his position as managing director of CBRE Investors’ strategic partners team in Tokyo to join Ajia Partners, a Hong Kong-based special situations, real estate and equities investment group as a managing director.

In an email to colleagues, Bass, who previously worked for Macquarie Properties Japan, said he would assume his duties at Ajia from next Monday. At Ajia, Bass will be responsible for leading and expanding the business in the region.

He will assist with the management of Ajia’s Osara Japan Retail Fund, which is co-managed with Mitsubishi Corporation, as well as complete the investment of Ajia’s Ostara Japan Fund II. He will also focus on forming and offering other investment vehicles with the purpose of taking advantage of distressed opportunities in Japan.

Bass joined CBRE Investors in 2006. Prior to leaving for Ajia, he was leading the Los Angeles-headquartered firm’s activities in Asia alongside executive managing director Mark Karlan and managing director Hao Zhou, who is based in Hong Kong.

The firm’s most recent Asia real estate investment fund, CBRE Strategic Partners Asia II, closed on $400 million in 2008.

Bass was unavailable for comment at the time of writing.