UEM Sunrise Appoints Leong Jee Van as Chief Property Development Officer to Strengthen Growth Execution

PETALING JAYA (May 7): UEM Sunrise Bhd has appointed Leong Jee Van as its chief property development officer (CPDO), effective May 18, as the property developer enhances execution capabilities across its core development operations and strategic growth corridors.

In a statement, UEM Sunrise managing director and chief executive officer Shaharul Farez Hassan said Leong’s appointment would further strengthen the group’s leadership and operational execution.

According to Farez, Leong’s extensive experience across the property value chain will support the company’s ongoing efforts to sharpen development focus, improve execution discipline and build a balanced portfolio spanning property development, property investment and joint ventures.

More Than 30 Years of Property and Engineering Experience

Leong brings over three decades of experience in both the property and engineering sectors, with expertise covering development planning, land acquisition, product strategy and project delivery.

As CPDO, he will oversee UEM Sunrise’s end-to-end property development functions, focusing on enhancing product quality, strengthening cost management and ensuring timely project delivery across the company’s development portfolio.

He is also expected to support development activities within UEM Sunrise’s strategic growth corridors, particularly opportunities arising from the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and other high-growth urban markets.

Extensive Leadership Experience Across Major Developers

Before joining UEM Sunrise, Leong served at Tribeca Real Estate Management Sdn Bhd, where he led the development of Cedar Damansara, a low-density residential project located in Bukit Damansara.

Previously, he was chief executive officer of property development at Matrix Concepts Holdings Bhd, overseeing project delivery and establishing the Kuala Lumpur team to support the group’s expansion beyond Negeri Sembilan and Johor.

Throughout his career, Leong has also held senior positions at Tropicana Corp Bhd, Naim Holdings Bhd and Bandar Raya Developments Bhd, where he was involved in major mixed-use developments, joint ventures and international projects.

Academically, he holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University.

What We Learn From This

This appointment highlights several important insights about the property development industry:

• Property developers are increasingly strengthening leadership teams to improve execution quality and project delivery amid competitive market conditions.
• Large developers value executives with broad experience across the full property value chain, including land acquisition, planning, strategy and construction execution.
• Strategic economic corridors such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone are becoming key growth drivers for Malaysian property companies.
• Leadership appointments often signal a company’s intention to accelerate growth, improve operational discipline and position itself for future expansion opportunities.
• Experienced industry professionals frequently move across major property groups, bringing valuable networks and expertise that can support large-scale development execution.