Hong Kong-listed Link REIT, the largest real estate investment trust in Asia, has announced leadership transition plans following the announcement that group chief executive officer and executive director George Hongchoy will retire.

Hongchoy will vacate all his official positions with Link by December 31st. Over the coming months, he will support a smooth transition to an interim leadership structure, according to a company statement.

John Saunders, group chief investment officer, will be appointed to Link’s board as executive director, effective January 1 2026. He will work together with Kok-Siong Ng, executive director and group chief financial officer, under an interim leadership structure to cover the responsibilities of the group CEO, reporting to chairman Duncan Owen and the board of directors.

Owen, together with a newly formed chairs committee comprising Owen and the chairs of the other board committees, will provide oversight, support, and independent non-executive guidance to the executive directors in the execution of strategy and implementation of key initiatives, ensuring appropriate governance and progress with the group’s strategy continues during this period.

“This interim arrangement will allow George to fulfil his wish to retire, leveraging the strong and established leadership team that Link has in place to deliver continuity until such time that a new group CEO is able to take up the role,” Owen says. “I would like to reiterate the board’s gratitude to George for his leadership over the past 16 years and to welcome John to the board. We look forward to continuing to work with John, Kok-Siong, and Link’s wider leadership team to drive forward the business.”

The independent board members are pursuing a “comprehensive process” to identify the next group CEO, the statement says, adding that further updates will be made in due course.