Austin Xu has begun a new role in Beijing as investment VP for the real estate wing of China Life Investment Management.
Xu spent 5 years within Knight Frank Central London Capital Markets team, which has been involved in capital transactions of over £5 bn in the last 3 years.
He is also in a leadership role as the President of the Britain China Real Estate Association and the President of Cambridge University Real Estate Finance Asian Alumni Society.
During his time at Knight Frank he had the title of Head of China Desk, UK, in London.
He began his career at Deloitte’s real estate financial advisory division.
According to reports at the time, China Life bought 70% of the 93,000 m2 10 Upper Bank Street alongside 20% by Qatar Holdings in 2014 from Songbird Estates, the headquarters of Clifford Chance for £795 mln.
A year later it acquired a 50% stake in 99 Bishopsgate from Brookfield for an estimated £340 mln. It also reportedly teamed up with Brookfield Property Partners to buy Aldgate Tower from Starwood Capital for £346 mln.
