OREANDA-NEWS. Prudential Real Estate Investors has named Morgan Laughlin head of its Asia business, responsible for managing the company’s operations and strategy in the Asia Pacific region. PREI® is the real estate investment management and advisory business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE).

Laughlin, based in Tokyo, replaces Victoria Shigehira Sharpe, who has taken a new role with the Global Institutional Relationship Group for Prudential Investment Management. Based in Singapore, she will focus on expanding key client relationships for all of Prudential’s asset management businesses.

“Morgan is an invaluable addition to our global management team, bringing deep experience in building businesses in emerging and developed markets in Asia and a track record that includes managing real estate debt, direct real estate investing, client engagement and regional management,” said Allen Smith, CEO of PREI. “His well-rounded background will help to expand our business as we seek to offer our clients strong investment opportunities in the region, and strengthen our ability to provide Asian investors access to investments around the world.”

PREI had about USD 8 billion in gross assets under management in Asia (USD 4.5 billion net) as of December 31, 2012, and has been investing in the commercial real estate markets of Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, China, India and Australia since 1994. Operating in the region as Pramerica Real Estate Investors, the company has offices in Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul, Beijing and Hong Kong, and has a representative office in Sydney.

Laughlin joins PREI from Grosvenor Fund Management, where he was most recently a regional director responsible for managing its real estate business Asia Pacific Region. Earlier, he held several roles at the Royal Bank of Scotland, including head of portfolio management, the Japanese business, real estate advisory business and real estate finance. He previously led DB real estate for Asia ex-Japan for Deutsche Bank (RREEF), and worked for Bankers Trust Company and Paine Webber.

Laughlin earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin American Studies from Columbia College. He has lived and worked in the U.S., Japan, Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong.