DWS strengthens Asia Pacific real estate team with senior appointments

DWS today announced Junghoon (Phil) Kook has been appointed Head of Real Estate, Korea; and Leiting Deng has been appointed Head of Real Estate, Singapore. Based in Seoul and Singapore respectively, both positions report to Christopher Kimm, Head of Real Estate, Asia Pacific.

Phil Kook joined DWS in 2021 and has 18 years of industry experience. Since joining DWS, he has led the transactions team in Korea helping to grow DWS’s real estate footprint locally. As head of the Korean real estate platform, he will join DWS Korea’s Board of Directors and will continue to spearhead the local transactions team as well as expand our footprint to new sectors. Prior to joining DWS, Phil was the Head of Real Estate and Structured Finance Division at Shinhan Asset Management where he led both overseas and domestic investments as well as capital raising. During his three and a half-year tenure at Shinhan, he established a total of nine funds, accumulating approximately US$ 1.5 billion in value.

Leiting Deng joined DWS in 2013 and has more than 16 years of real estate experience. Her expanded role will see her continue as a portfolio manager for the Asian funds business in addition to overseeing the growth of the Singapore real estate platform. Previously, she covered the Australian and Chinese markets in transactions and asset management. Prior to joining DWS, Leiting was the portfolio manager of a real estate core fund at LaSalle Investment Management, and an investment and asset management analyst in CapitaMall Trust (now CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust).

Junghoon (Phil) Kook, Head of Real Estate, Korea said: “It is a great privilege to lead the Korean real estate platform at DWS. Our strategic focus will remain on servicing our international and Korean institutional clients through our asset management expertise in key regions, as well as broadening our strategies as we move higher up in the risk spectrum to pursue opportunities across different segments of the capital stack.”

Leiting Deng, Head of Real Estate, Singapore added: “I am thrilled to take on this newly created position at DWS. Singapore remains a key investment market for international investors, given its stable and transparent investment environment. The platform will continue to seek opportunities across relevant sectors for our investors.”

Christopher Kimm, Head of Real Estate, Asia Pacific at DWS said: “In leading DWS’ largest real estate footprint in Asia Pacific, I am confident that Phil’s depth of experience and established networks will benefit our reputation as a major real estate player in Korea. Leiting’s local knowledge combined with investment expertise across key real estate disciplines will be critical in growing our AUM in Singapore.”

“DWS maintains growth aspirations in the region through co-investment and separate account mandate opportunities, along with our existing European and Asia funds business,” he concluded.

Vanessa Wang, Head of DWS, Asia Pacific said: “DWS’ real estate business in Asia Pacific has a deep heritage built over 26 years in the region. Our direct platform along with our REITS capabilities, provides a holistic and complementary offering to global investors. With continued demand for real estate assets among investors, our experience and knowledge in local countries offer access and advice to those who wish to tap into the growth opportunities in Asia Pacific.

Both appointments follow the appointment of George Anastasiou as Head of Real Estate Australia, in August 2022.

About DWS – Real Estate

DWS has been investing in real estate assets for more than 50 years. As part of the Alternatives platform, the real estate business has nearly 350 employees in more than 25 cities around the world and EUR 76 billion in global real estate assets under management (March 31, 2023). Providing a diverse range of strategies and solutions across the risk/return and geographic spectrums, we offer core, value-added and opportunistic real estate, real estate debt and real estate securities. The real estate investment business employs a disciplined investment approach and aims to deliver attractive long-term risk adjusted returns, preservation of capital and diversification to its investors, which include governments, corporations, insurance companies, endowments, retirement plans, and private clients worldwide.

About DWS Group

DWS Group (DWS) with EUR 841bn of assets under management (as of 31 March 2023) aspires to be one of the world's leading asset managers. Building on more than 60 years of experience, it has a reputation for excellence in Germany, Europe, the Americas and Asia. DWS is recognized by clients globally as a trusted source for integrated investment solutions, stability and innovation across a full spectrum of investment disciplines.

We offer individuals and institutions access to our strong investment capabilities across all major liquid and illiquid asset classes as well as solutions aligned to growth trends. Our diverse expertise in Active, Passive and Alternatives asset management – as well as our deep environmental, social and governance focus – complement each other when creating targeted solutions for our clients. Our expertise and on-the-ground knowledge of our economists, research analysts and investment professionals are brought together in one consistent global CIO View, giving strategic guidance to our investment approach.

DWS wants to innovate and shape the future of investing. We understand that, both as a corporate as well as a trusted advisor to our clients, we have a crucial role in helping navigate the transition to a more sustainable future. With approximately 4,400 employees in offices all over the world, we are local while being one global team. We are committed to acting on behalf of our clients and investing with their best interests at heart so that they can reach their financial goals, no matter what the future holds. With our entrepreneurial, collaborative spirit, we work every day to deliver outstanding investment results, in both good and challenging times to build the best foundation for our clients’ financial future.