Gibson to Leave Jones Lang LaSalle

By Andrew Starke

Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels has announced the retirement of David Gibson after seventeen years with the firm – thirteen of those as CEO of the Asia Pacific region.

Gibson is an international director and a member of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels’ global board.

“David is part of the team that originally founded Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels and he has made an immense contribution to the firm during his long career,” Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Chairman, Peter Barge, said. “Initially a hotel operations and asset management specialist, David rapidly emerged as a consummate deal maker before going on to become regional CEO for Asia Pacific.”

Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Global CEO, Arthur de Haast, added: “David has given important input into our global strategy and acted as a mentor and coach to many in the global team. During his time as CEO in Asia Pacific the business grew from a market leading position in Australia to become a dominant force throughout this vast and fast growing region.”

Given the enormous geographical scale of the region and the expected growth in business, from 2010, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels in Asia Pacific will be managed as two separate areas.

Australasia (Australia and New Zealand) will be led by Craig Collins, the Sydney-based managing director, who will be closely supported by Troy Craig, executive vice president as head of the advisory business.

Based in Singapore, Scott Hetherington, managing director, will continue to head up Asia with his executive team of Tom Sawayanagi in Japan, Andy Flaig in China and Mike Batchelor (Capital Markets) and Hok Yean Chee (Advisory) in Singapore.

“Given David’s considerable experience, boundless energy and great enthusiasm for the hotel and tourism industry, I am sure he will continue to make a valuable contribution to the hotel investment sector in the future,” said de Haast.

 “I am very much looking forward to taking a break, spending more time with family and pursuing personal interests, including seeking out new ways to use my knowledge to help make a future contribution to the tourism investment industry,” said Gibson. “I am very privileged to have been given the opportunity to work with and lead a wonderful team of enormously talented and vibrant people.”

Gibson will retire on Friday 26 February 2010 and will act in a consultancy capacity for a further three months until the end of May 2010.