Albert Lau, Managing Director of Savills Shanghai, has been promoted to Executive Director for Savills China to facilitate aggressive expansion of Savills' business in mainland China. Since Albert Lau accepted Savills' invitation to head up its Shanghai operations in 2002, his leadership has fostered the growth of Savills Shanghai from a central team comprising 60 staff to over 250 today, along with more than 1,500 site staff, offering a full range of integrated property services to serve the needs of both local and international clients.

Robert McKellar, CEO of Savills Asia Pacific said: "China has rapidly become one of the major engines of the global economy and an extremely important market for both inward and outward investment into real estate. We have been in China for over 16 years and although the international economic environment is challenging now, our business in mainland China still continues to gain strength each year. As a highly experienced professional, I am confident that Albert Lau, working with Randall Hall will achieve the growth and results Savills expect.

Randall Hall, CEO of Savills China said: "Albert Lau has been very successful in building our most well rounded businesses in China, the Savills Shanghai office. I am delighted that he has accepted the challenge to work with me to strengthen and expand our activities across the mainland.

Albert Lau, Executive Director of Savills China said: "I am excited to take this challenge and increase my management responsibilities. I look forward to working with our team to see Savills continue to be a "leading edge" property services provider"

In line with this business expansion, Savills has adjusted the existing management team to ensure resources are better deployed and more quickly able to take advantage of the many and varied opportunities for growth that continue to arise.

This latest management change marks a further milestone in Savills long and proud history of growing with China and the company will continue on this path strengthening its services and presence over the long term. Through investing heavily in developing better services and better personnel, Savills will ensure it remains one of the dominant property services providers in China, continuing to meet the needs of its clients by matching China's constantly evolving market with continually advancing sophistication.

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Editor's Notes:

Savills

Savills is a leading global real estate service provider listed on the London Stock Exchange. The company, established in 1855, has a rich heritage with unrivalled growth. It is a company that leads rather than follows and now has over 180 offices and associates throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

A unique combination of sector knowledge and entrepreneurial flair gives clients access to real estate expertise of the highest calibre.  We are regarded as an innovative thinking organisation backed up with excellent negotiating skills.  Savills chooses to focus on a defined set of clients, therefore offering a premium service to organisations and individuals with whom we share a common goal.  Savills is synonymous with a high quality service offering and a premium brand, takes a long term view to real estate and invests in strategic relationships.