Aberdeen is the second largest property asset manager in Europe and the firm aims to replicate the same strategy in Asia with Shaw’s appointment, according to Russell Chaplin, property chief investment officer.
The firm said it is currently hiring additional members for its two-person Asia team.
“While we already have ten years of experience investing in Asian property funds, [Shaw’s] intimate knowledge of local markets will be vital as we look to grow our direct assets under management in the region.”
Shaw has 20 years of experience in Asia and was most recently a consultant in Hong Kong where he advised on real estate investments in both local and cross-border markets.
His career stints include investment and advisory roles in Hong Kong and China for various firms such as Everview Capital Partners, Composition Capital Partners, Lowe Enterprises Asia and Cushman & Wakefield.
According to Shaw, the property market across the region is hugely diverse and has developed in different ways.
“The factors affecting property investments in, for instance, Japan are vastly different from those in some of the more developing economies,” Shaw said.
On 31 December, Aberdeen had $504bn in assets under management on behalf of institutional and private investors.
