15 Jan 2009
The Link Appoints Chief Financial Officer and Senior Executives
HONG KONG, 15 January 2009 - The Board of Directors (the Board) of The Link Management Limited (the Company), manager of The Link REIT (Hong Kong stock code: 823), is pleased to announce that Mr George Kwok Lung Hongchoy will succeed Mr Chew Fook Aun as Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") with effect from 16 January 2009. Mr Hongchoy will be appointed as an executive director upon satisfying the requirements and obtaining approval as a Responsible Officer from the Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC"). The application for such approval has been submitted to the SFC.
The Company also announces two new senior people have recently joined – Mrs Maria Wong has been appointed as Head of Leasing and Mr Leslie Yee as Head of Research and Funds Management. In addition, Ms LK Lam has been promoted to assume the role of Director of Corporate Communications and Strategy.
The Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ian Robins, said, "In relation to the CFO role, we are very pleased that Mr Hongchoy will be joining us to build on Mr Chew's good work. Mr Hongchoy's strong experience in financial management and corporate finance is a great asset to the Company. Further, these recent senior appointments form part of the ongoing strategy to further strengthen the capability of our existing Management Team, thereby creating value for our Unitholders, the Tenants and the communities of Hong Kong."
Mr Hongchoy, aged 46, has over 20 years of experience in investment banking and financial services. Prior to joining the Company, he was the Managing Director and Head of DBS Asia Capital Limited from 2004 until the end of December 2008. He was Director, Head of Diversified Industries of N.M. Rothschild & Sons (Hong Kong) Limited from 2003 to 2004 and Managing Director of Investment Banking of J.P. Morgan Securities (Asia Pacific) Limited from 1992 to 2002.
Mr Hongchoy holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Canterbury and a MBA degree from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He is a Chartered Accountant under the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("HKICPA"). Currently, he is a Director of the Hong Kong Securities Institute and a member of the Advisory Committee on Human Resources Development in the Financial Sector of The Government of the HKSAR.
Mr Chew will cease to be CFO and Executive Director of the Company with effect from 16 January 2009. The Board would like to extend its warmest welcome to Mr Hongchoy and express its appreciation to Mr CHEW for his valuable contribution to the Company and The Link REIT during his tenure of office.
Mrs Maria Wong has over 25 years experience in both the retail and property sectors in Hong Kong. Prior to joining the Company, Mrs Wong was Property Director – Retail HK of A.S. Watson & Co. Ltd., responsible for overseeing the property and store developments for the group��s flagship retail units, including ParknShop, Watsons, Fortress, Watsons Wine Cellar, and property development of ParknShop China. As Head of Leasing, Mrs Wong will also be responsible for retail planning, development of key relationships with our major retailers, together with the overall strategic direction of our ongoing asset enhancement programs. Mrs Wong brings vast retail experience and a unique perspective to the role.
Mr Leslie Yee has extensive experience in investment research and funds management. Before joining the Company, he was Executive Director Asia-Pacific Investment Research of Goldman Sachs Singapore, responsible for Singapore and South East Asia real estate equities research. In his role as Head of Research and Funds Management, Mr Yee brings strong analytical and financial skills, together with an understanding of both the broader equity capital markets and the Asian REIT markets. In addition, Mr Yee will also undertake an active involvement in our Investor Relations program.
http://www.thelinkreit.com/en/press_news/press_release.asp?prid=721
