Weekly roundup of people news, Mar 22
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ART MAKES STRATEGIC BOARD APPOINTMENTS
The Australian Retirement Trust (ART) appointed Martin Parkinson, a former Treasury official, and Helen Rowell, ex-deputy chair of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), to its board.
Parkinson was the secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australian Treasury, and the inaugural secretary of the Department of Climate Change.
Rowell, had a 20-year tenure at APRA, including a decade as deputy chair overseeing superannuation and insurance. She steps into her new role following her departure from the regulator last year.
The new appointees fill the vacancies left by Georgina Williams and Michael Traill, who have completed their terms.
Another addition to the board is Mark Burgess, previously the chief executive of the Future Fund and executive in investment banking and listed companies.
Burgess is set to chair ART's investment committee. He was previously the inaugural chair of HESTA's investment committee, a role he stepped down from in February 2023.
SUPER SA SELECTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Super SA has appointed Dini Soulio as their new chief executive, succeeding interim leader Patrick McAvaney.
Souldio was formerly South Australia's commissioner for consumer affairs among other roles, and a senior manager at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. He replaces Dascia Bennett, who left nine months ago for personal reasons.
With a strong background in public service and law, Soulio took the helm of the A$37 billion public sector fund on March 4.
The Hong Kong government reportedly plans to name Carlson Tong as the new chairman of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX).
Reuters first reported the news.
AsianInvestor understands that the government is very likely to appoint Tong, the former Asia-Pacific chairman of KPMG, as the next chairman of the bourse.
“HKEX’s board will meet after April’s AGM (annual general meeting) to elect a chairman from its members,” a spokesperson of HKEX told AsianInvestor.
HKEX’s AGM will be held on April 24 this year.
The new chair is set to work alongside Bonnie Chan, who became HKEX’s new chief executive officer on March 1, succeeding Nicolas Aguzin.
Current HKEX Chairman Laura Cha will retire after the AGM meeting in April after six years in the role, HKEX announced on February 16.
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON APPOINTS NEW JAPAN PRESIDENT
Franklin Templeton appointed Takashi Takamura as president and country head of Japan, effective April 1.
Based in Tokyo, Takamura will report to Tariq Ahmad, head of Asia Pacific at Franklin Templeton.
Suguru Kuwahata, the current president, will focus on growing the retail asset management business and wealth services in his new role as the vice president and head of wealth, Japan.
Prior to joining Franklin Templeton, Takamura was president and representative director at State Street Global Advisors in Japan.
Takamura left State Street in January 2024, a spokesperson told AsianInvestor.
Kensuke Niihara, chief investment officer of State Street Global Advisors Japan, has assumed Takamura’s duties on an interim basis. State Street is currently conducting “a comprehensive search” for Takamura’s successor, the spokesperson added.
He has also held senior management roles at Capital International K.K., Citigroup Asset Management – now part of Franklin Templeton Japan – and Mitsui Trust & Banking – now known as Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank.
LINKLATERS ANNOUNCES NEW CHINA MANAGING PARTNER
Law firm Linklaters appointed Andrew Chung as its new managing partner for China.
Chung takes over from William Liu who will continue in his role as Asia Regional Managing Partner
Chung joined the firm in August 2018 as a litigation, arbitration and investigations partner in Hong Kong. He was previously a solicitor at Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong.
CDPQ GETS GLOBAL REAL ESTATE HEAD
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) appointed Rana Ghorayeb executive cice-president and head of real estate, effective April 29.
Ghorayeb will be responsible for leading the overall Ivanhoé Cambridge portfolio and investment team, which has assets of over C$77 billion ($56.7 billion), and report to Charles Emond, president and CEO of CDPQ.
Until recently, Ivanhoé Cambridge was the real estate arm of CDPQ, but its activities are currently being integrated, and as of April 29, this team will become an investment group within CDPQ.
In the January 24 announcement of integrating Ivanhoé Cambridge, CDPQ announced that Nathalie Palladitcheff, president and CEO of Ivanhoé Cambridge had decided to leave the CDPQ group when the transition period was concluded.
Ghorayeb was previously president and CEO of Otéra Capital, a CDPQ subsidiary specialising in real estate lending. She has also worked at JP Morgan Asset Management in London and at US pension fund TIAA in New York.
As of end 2022, 9% of Ivanhoe Cambridge’s portfolio was invested in Asia Pacific.