In Two-Year Volunteer Position, Cheng will Lead ULI’s Growth in Rapidly Urbanizing Market   

Hong Kong, 6 January 2014 — The Urban Land Institute (ULI), a global non-profit research and education institute dedicated to responsible land use, today announced that Henry Cheng, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Shanghai-based Chongbang Group, a real estate investment and development group of companies, has been selected as ULI’s first Chairman for Mainland China.

Cheng has been an active member and volunteer leader of ULI in China for many years. Some of the companies he has led have received ULI awards for excellence, reflecting the highest standards of community building. He is passionate about ULI’s mission to promote leadership in the responsible use of land and in sustaining thriving communities worldwide, and its importance and relevance during this period of China’s rapid urbanization.

Cheng will serve as ULI Mainland China Chairman on a voluntary basis for a two-year term. His post began in late November, prior to ULI’s Mainland China Annual Meeting, which took place on December 5^th in Pudong, Shanghai.

“Asia is an extremely important region for ULI and its members,” said Patrick Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of ULI and president of the ULI Foundation. “As an organisation, our membership has grown substantially throughout the region, and much of this growth is coming from China. Henry’s strong commitment to ULI and his wealth of industry experience will help greatly as we continue the organization’s expansion throughout Asia.”

“With rapid urbanization taking place all across the country, and at a significant pace, China is a very unique market,” commented John Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of ULI Asia Pacific. “Henry has played a pivotal role in many urban development projects and his expertise and knowledge is an invaluable asset for us as we look to help build ULI’s role in the local market.”

“I am honoured to accept this position,” Cheng said. “We have just completed our hugely successful Mainland China Annual Meeting with the theme around ‘Urban Regeneration: Facilitating Healthy and Sustainable Environment’ and I will be happy to take an even more active role in furthering ULI’s goals in China, and continuing the dialogue on how we can build healthy communities that serve to enrich people’s spiritual and cultural life.”

As the Chairman for ULI in Mainland China, Cheng will guide the direction of ULI’s program of work in the market, including conducting educational seminars; strengthening ULI’s brand; outreach to new partners; land use and real estate-related research relevant to China; and ULI advisory service panels.