Leading international property consultancy, Knight Frank, has appointed Mr Piers Brunner as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Greater China, based in Hong Kong.

A 26-year veteran in the real estate industry, Brunner is tasked to further develop the Knight Frank business across Greater China. He will commence his new role on 28 October 2015. Prior to joining Knight Frank, Brunner worked for Colliers for 20 years. Most recently, he was the Chief Executive Officer for Colliers’ Asia, managing 30 offices in 14 countries.

Brunner has a wealth of experience in tenant representation, which is one of the most important growth areas for Knight Frank’s Greater China business. Having advised business transactions across Asia Pacific, Brunner won corporate accounts with big guns such as Procter & Gamble, Reuters, Alcatel and EMC, and managed corporate accounts including ACNielsen and ABN Amro.

Kevin Coppel, Regional Head of Asia Pacific, Knight Frank, says, “We are delighted to have someone of the calibre of Piers to lead our Greater China business on the next phase of its development. Piers’ understanding of the business in Hong Kong and China, his track record in major leasing and investment transactions, and his leadership experience will prove to be a tremendous asset for Knight Frank. We see Greater China as a terrific opportunity for the firm and are committed to working with Piers to invest in growing our platform.”

Brunner says, “I am excited to be joining Knight Frank, a business with a strong reputation and worldwide network.  Knight Frank is highly regarded for its professionalism, long-term perspective, innovative research and excellent client service. I am optimistic about the opportunities in the real estate markets in Greater China and look forward to working with my new colleagues to pursue those opportunities with energy and determination.”

Having lived in Hong Kong over the last 16 years, Brunner has an extensive understanding of Chinese culture and brings with him deep-rooted client connections in the region’s real estate sector. Before moving to Hong Kong, Brunner spent four years in Jakarta with Colliers International where the Indonesian business, under his leadership, was profitable even through the 97/98 Asian Financial Crisis.

Brunner started his career in London in 1990. He spent five years between 1991 and 1995 with Knight Frank in the London office where he was part of the tenant representation team.