Managers

Tishman Speyer hires former AEW exec for APAC build out

The firm is also hiring investment professionals in Japan, Australia and South Korea as it expands its capabilities in these markets beyond only fundraising.

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Tishman Speyer has strengthened its Asia-Pacific investment team with the hire of a former senior executive from AEW Asia, PERE has learnt.

Adrian Lee will join the firm’s Singapore office as senior director of acquisitions with responsibility for sourcing and executing investment opportunities across Asia-Pacific, according to a statement PERE has seen exclusively. He will report to managing director Graham Mackie.

Lee was most recently a director and head of investments and asset management at AEW Asia. Before that, he served as head of real estate investments at Homax, as well as a director and portfolio manager at UBS Asset Management.

“The addition of Adrian to our Singapore office is an important milestone in the build-out of our Asia-Pacific investment platform,” Mackie said in the statement. “Adrian brings a deep understanding of the region, excellent relationships and an impressive investment track record across gateway cities in Asia-Pacific.”

Lee’s hire forms part of the US firm’s broader plan to grow its regional investment activities beyond China and India. It is understood that Tishman Speyer has yet to make any investment outside these two markets.

In June 2022, the firm appointed Mackie, former head of real estate for the APAC region at UBS Asset Management, to lead its Asia-Pacific expansion from the newly opened Singapore office. The firm also hired Jian An Tan, former investment manager at Gaw Capital, to join Mackie in Singapore in October last year.

Mackie told PERE on the back of Lee’s hire that the firm is talking to investors for a potential debut regional strategy in the value-add and opportunistic space. It will also look at sector specific and country specific mandates.

Besides Singapore, the real estate group is currently hiring investment professionals for its offices in Japan, South Korea and Australia.

“We are fortunate to be able to spend these months putting together a team and also raising capital to prepare ourselves to be able to make some really compelling investments as opportunities arise in the next 12-18 months,” said Mackie.