CEO of Wheelock Properties dies

Straits Times: Tue, Mar 06

THE property industry is in shock after the sudden death of Wheelock Properties chief executive David Lawrence on Sunday. The 'man with the Midas touch', as he was known in the business, died in his sleep aged 65. A chartered surveyor by training, Mr Lawrence was managing director at property consultant group Richard Ellis (CBRE) before he joined Wheelock Properties, then known as Marco Polo Developments, in 1993. He served as executive director in 1995, managing director in 1996 and chief executive in 2001. The company owns Wheelock Place, one of the most iconic buildings in Orchard Road. Mr Lawrence, a Briton who had served in the Royal Navy, became a Singapore citizen in 2006. He leaves an impressive legacy of astute real estate investments. Many will recall the frenzied overnight queuing for the coveted Parc Oasis apartments in 1993, which was an unprecedented success in the suburban condominium market. Mr Lawrence was project manager under CBRE. Under his leadership, Wheelock Properties also developed the billion-dollar Ardmore Park project, raising the bar for luxury developments in Singapore. Friends and colleagues respected him as a shrewd and highly experienced business leader with high professional standards. CBRE Asia chairman Willy Shee recalls working under Mr Lawrence from 1985 to 1991. 'As a managing director, he was very decisive and strategic. He's also a person with very high professional standards and is very business-like,' Mr Shee said, adding that Mr Lawrence also set very high standards 'for all the staff working for him'. Mr Colm McCarthy, independent director of Wheelock Properties and a close colleague of Mr Lawrence's for close to 15 years, described him as a 'very insightful industry leader'. 'He was always a mine of information of the marketplace, always with great insights of what worked and what didn't work,' Mr McCarthy said. He added that Mr Lawrence 'had very strong views on doing things right and always wanted to make sure perfection was part of everything he did'. Mr Lee Liat Yeang, a partner at Rodyk & Davidson, described Mr Lawrence as 'a very level-headed man' who 'was very tough, but at the same time knew what he was talking about.' Mr Lawrence is survived by his wife, Tay Lai Yong, and a daughter. [e-mail] Source: The Straits Times