As head of Office Strategy & Solutions for Knight Frank, and with over 18 years 'experience, Jonathan is one of Shanghai’s foremost expert in large office and business park transactions. Currently, he is tracking the trends in Shanghai’s downtown central business districts (CBD), decentralized office and business park areas, which gives him a unique expertise in the entire Shanghai office market.

He works daily helping MNC and Chinese companies with their large Shanghai real estate requirements, including headquarter (HQ) offices, consolidations, build-to-suit (BTS) campuses, R&D Center, and property disposals. Transaction models include lease, strata title, land purchase, property disposal, design and build / BTS acquisitions

Jonathan also maintains a targeted consultancy business providing market reports and site selection or product positioning for life science occupiers and business park developers.

Stephanie Lau is the Senior Manager for the Retail Tenant Representation Team in China based in Shanghai. In this role, Stephanie focuses on guiding international retailers into China through the development and execution of their store expansion strategies and subsequent roll-outs across China as well as cross border consulting services for brands going to Europe, North America, Canada and Asia.

Stephanie has been part of the core Retail Tenant Representation team for Savills in mainland China since 2014. Stephanie’s role involves retailer target identification and ongoing retailer relations, serving as the point of contact for some of the most demanded international brands in the world. Key clients include Abercrombie & Fitch, APM Monaco, Apple, Hollister, Lululemon, Polestar, Tesla, Victoria’s Secret.

Stephanie was also assigned as the account manager for DrMartens and Birkenstock in China. She will be in charge in assisting clients with their market entry strategy and subsequent roll-outs across China.

Irania Martinez is the Senior Manager of the Industrial & Logistics Services Department at CBRE. Since joining CBRE Shanghai in October 2020, she has successfully settled companies that are now highly profitable, guiding them through each stage of their industrial and logistics projects to become well-established corporations in China.

In her previous role as Executive Director of an International Chamber of Commerce in China, Irania created essential links and connections to foster business, investment, and the establishment of foreign projects. She also represented an International Industrial Zone in Jiangsu province, managing 350,000 sqm of foreign investment in the manufacturing sector. Her transaction brokerage record includes over 500,000 sqm in site selection, sales & leaseback, transaction management, and built-to-suit services.

Based in China for over a decade, Irania has embraced the opportunity to explore, discover, and collaborate with this dynamic nation. With extensive knowledge of China and the APAC region, she has become a fundamental link between diverse groups, contributing to projects that promote networking and business relationships.

As a consultant for international companies in China, Irania has advised on daily decisions and specific business opportunities, significantly expanding the network’s connections. She holds an International Relations degree from ITESM Mexico (2010), a Certificate in Political Sciences from Sciences Po France (2009), and an Elite Business Administration Certificate from Jiatong University (2020). Fluent in Spanish, English, and French, and continuing to learn Chinese, she has experienced and discovered cultures worldwide before arriving in Asia.

Currently, Irania spearheads Industrial & Logistics projects across China and the APAC region at CBRE, a FORTUNE 500 commercial real estate powerhouse with a global revenue of $3 billion. She campaigns the success of multinational clients and SMEs eager to thrive in Asian markets, delivering unparalleled property transaction and real estate services.

With a strong sense of community and a commitment to sharing her knowledge, Irania is dedicated to maximizing industrial real estate potential through her extensive connections in China.

James Macdonald was appointed as Head of Savills Research, China in 2007. He has the overall responsibility to ensure the successful delivery of research across mainland China, advise key clients and stakeholders of the latest market trends and future business opportunities as well as expand the adoption of technology systems and develop thought leadership.

Savills China Research Department is the backbone of Savills’ operations in China. By compiling much needed knowledge and support for our agency departments, Savills Research provides the leading edge needed in China’s increasingly competitive real estate market.

On an ongoing basis, we monitor a multitude of aspects within the various sectors of the property market—office, retail, residential, investment and hospitality. By compiling premium quality data, we enable ourselves and our clients to gain useful insights into China’s market dynamics.