Ken Chan
Ken was GIC Japan’s Country Head, where he looked after Real Estate and Integrated Strategies investments. Over his 19-year career with GIC, Ken led the Japan team, building up a core portfolio of real estate assets across office, residential, retail, logistics and hospitality sectors, in addition to assisting GIC with its other investments in equities, private equities and infrastructure. Ken’s vast network in Japan and Asia also helped GIC establish a strong brand name and build up investments in various financial assets across different industries. Ken also sits on the board of directors for Christel Vie Ensemble, is co-chairperson for LIVES Tokyo and was also the former Urban Land Institute (ULI) Japan Vice Chairman. Ken graduated Order of Troy, receiving a BSc in Business from University of Southern California.
Ken is the founder, CEO and CIO of Patience Capital Group.
Low Tien Loon
Tien Loon was Senior Vice President in GIC Pte Ltd where he headed up the Financing team for real estate globally. Tien Loon has cultivated strong banking relationships, and worked on deals across office, retail, hospitality, residential, logistics, and other niche property sectors in Asia, Europe and the Americas. Over 21 years with GIC, Tien Loon has been actively involved in debt financing and investment structuring for numerous real estate projects globally. Prior to GIC, Tien Loon was an Assistant Manager with Tokai Bank, Singapore Branch doing corporate banking.
Tien Loon graduated from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, with a BA in Business. In addition, he is also a certified FRM, and has passed all levels of the CFA and ACCA programs.
Maryanne Soo
Maryanne was Legal Counsel at GIC Real Estate, advising on its global investments. Her expertise involves structuring and advising on cross-border joint ventures, asset acquisitions, private equity investments, fund investments and financing transactions relating to commercial, retail, tourism, residential and industrial properties. After leaving GIC, Maryanne worked for Skadden, Arps, Slater, Meagher & Flom in Tokyo, where she advised both international and domestic borrowers and lenders in project financing transactions, including TMK bond issues and multi-level mezzanine structures. Prior to PCG, Maryanne spent 8 years at OCBC Bank in Singapore, where she was the head of legal for the bank’s consumer banking business.
Maryanne has an LLB from the National University of Singapore and is qualified to practice in Singapore, England and New York.
Matt Hoffmann
Matt joined PCG from JLL Japan where he was Senior Director focussing on inbound investment and capital partnerships. Prior to JLL, Matt worked for Peterson Group in Hong Kong sourcing and managing assets worth over US$1.2bn in Europe, Australia and Japan. Previously he was with GIC in London working on both fund investments and direct deals across Europe. He joined GIC from Peakside Capital the former Merrill Lynch Principal Investments Europe where he was involved in investment and asset management.
Matt holds a B.A. in Business Admin. from Hamburg School of Business Administration and completed his MBA at ESSEC Business School in Paris and Singapore in addition he holds a Master in International Public Admin from The University of Hong Kong.
Japan Team
Yoshi Arakaki
With 13 years at GIC, Yoshi was responsible for the entire investment process, from acquisition, asset management for the office, retail, including developments with JV partners, residential, and hospitality sectors, to divestment. On top of GIC’s traditional large-scale investment strategy, Yoshi initiated a mid-sized investment strategy program in the residential and office sectors and built up a sizeable portfolio over the years.
Prior to GIC, he worked for GE Japan as a member of the Financial Management Program and GE Capital Real Estate from 2000 to 2008.
Yoshi graduated from Waseda University (BS in Law) and University of Oregon (BS in Business with concentration in Finance) with honors in 1999.
Yuko Karasawa
Yuko worked for 9 years at GIC Japan where she oversaw asset management of 10 hotels and serviced apartments, totaling more than 3000 rooms and amounting to more than USD3 billion of hospitality assets. She also divested 2 highly successful hospitality assets. Prior to that, she spent 5 years at Goldman Sachs Realty Japan Ltd and asset-managed 5 direct operating hotels, 3 management contract hotels, a franchised hotel and a portfolio of leased hotels where she conducted extensive renovations, handled lender management, and dispositions. Prior to GS Realty, Yuko was with General Electric Japan and Industrial Bank of Japan.
Yuko received a BA in International Relations from University of Tokyo and Masters of Management in Hospitality from Cornell University.
John Lo
John spent 26 years at Fidelity International (FIL) working in London, Hong Kong and Singapore managing institutional portfolios with clients comprising wealth managers, pension funds and sovereign wealth funds. At the peak of his career with FIL, John was directly responsible for assets under management of some US$7bn. In addition to his role as a Portfolio Manager, John was also Head of Equities – Singapore and responsible for establishing FIL’s investment office in Singapore. He grew and nurtured the team to becoming the global hub that it is for the firm today.
John retired from FIL to pivot into other investment opportunities. He continues his active interest in rock climbing, boxing, free diving and squash.