Hong Kong, 26 June 2015 – Colliers International Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CIGI; TSX: CIG), a global leader in real estate services, announced today that the company has further strengthened its Asian management team with the appointment of Nigel Smith as Managing Director of the company’s Hong Kong business.
Smith has 30 years of real estate experience and 25 years in Asia based in Hong Kong. He will be responsible for leading and shaping the future growth strategy for Colliers in Hong Kong. He joins following 13 years with CBRE in the city state, where he was most recently the Managing Director, Office Agency Services Asia. Prior to this, he worked with another international real estate company in their Kowloon office for 11 years. Smith has built a renowned market reputation advising leading Asian developers and global institutional investors targeting multi-national and Asian occupiers.
Smith has worked on many of Asia’s tallest buildings, including Central 18 Zone at 2ifc and International Commerce Center in Hong Kong, TAIPEI 101, China World Tower Beijing, Shanghai Tower, K11 Guangzhou and Lotte World Tower, uniquely positioning himself with the major owners in the region. He is also the current Chairman of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Commercial Property professional groups for Asia and Hong Kong and is a member of the RICS Hong Kong Board.
“I am delighted to join Colliers International which has a strong global brand, excellent reputation and a broad platform of services,” said Smith. “Hong Kong is a major market for the company and as a leading commercial real estate market globally, I feel privileged to have the opportunity to lead the strategic direction of the two Colliers offices in Hong Kong and Kowloon.”
Smith’s appointment follows that of David Hand as the new CEO for Asia Pacific and Paul Baxter, COO for Asia, who recently joined the company from other international real estate companies. These recent appointments are part of Colliers International’s global strategy to enhance the company’s market position in Asia Pacific, consistent with the company’s initiatives in other major markets around the world.
Smith, who starts his new role in early September, will report to David Hand who commented, “Smith’s appointment is a game changer for Colliers International and will enable us to accelerate the success we have already achieved over the past 35 years in Asia Pacific. His professionalism and passion will enable us to meet the changing needs of our clients, drive our service delivery and deepen our platform in the region.”