LaSalle Investment Management Names Steve Hyung Kim Head and CIO of Asia Pacific in Leadership Transition

SINGAPORE — LaSalle Investment Management, the global real estate investment manager and subsidiary of JLL, announced April 14 that Steve Hyung Kim will assume the role of Head and Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Asia Pacific effective May 1, 2026, as part of a planned regional leadership transition.

Kim previously served as Co-Head and Co-CIO of Asia Pacific and brings 26 years of investment experience, with a track record in opportunistic investing and platform development. In his new role, he will lead the firm's investment strategy, client relationships, and business operations across the region.

Leadership Transition Details

Kunihiko (Nick) Okumura, who served alongside Kim as Co-Head and Co-CIO of Asia Pacific, will step down from that role on May 1, 2026, and depart LaSalle on October 31, 2026. During the transition period, Okumura will continue in focused roles to support continuity, including as Asia Pacific Investment Committee Member through his departure date and as CEO of Japan through June 30, 2026.

Brad Gries, CEO of LaSalle Investment Management, said in a statement: "Steve's appointment demonstrates the strength of our leadership bench in Asia Pacific and our disciplined approach to succession planning. His deep regional expertise, institutional knowledge and proven track record position our platform exceptionally well for continued success. Steve has been instrumental in building our Asia Pacific business over the past 13 years, and we are confident in his leadership as we enter this next phase of growth. We are grateful to Nick for his many contributions to LaSalle, and for the role he has played in building our strong and enduring Japan business."

Japan Leadership Change at LaSalle

Concurrent with the broader Asia Pacific transition, LaSalle announced that Mari Nagai will become CEO of Japan effective July 1, 2026. Nagai currently serves as Head of LaSalle's logistics team in Japan and leads the LaSalle Japan Logistics Fund series. She brings more than 20 years of real estate experience in Japan and 18 years with LaSalle.

Steve Hyung Kim commented on the appointment: "Mari is a highly respected leader and investor with deep experience and strong stakeholder relationships in the Japan market, as well as a strong track record of execution. Her appointment as CEO of Japan exemplifies our commitment to promoting and cultivating talented leaders from within the organization."

Firm Context and Regional Platform

LaSalle Investment Management manages $86.4 billion of assets in private and public real estate equity and debt investments as of Q3 2025. The firm's client base includes public and private pension funds, insurance companies, governments, corporations, endowments, and private individuals globally. LaSalle sponsors a range of investment vehicles, including separate accounts, open- and closed-end funds, public securities, and entity-level investments.

About LaSalle Investment Management

LaSalle Investment Management is a globally integrated real estate investment manager and subsidiary of JLL. The firm operates across private and public real estate equity and debt investments. For more information, visit www.lasalle.com.

Sources: LaSalle Investment Management