Francis Li is a “Registered Professional Surveyor (General Practice)” who has maintained hands-on experience in real estate transactions across Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan for 36 years. He was a forerunner in the China capital markets, assisting foreign investors to invest in en-bloc properties in mainland China as early as 2004/05. In the past 10 years, the Capital Markets team successfully closed several signature and iconic transactions under Francis’ headship, including the sale of three major properties for Cheung Kong/Hutchison Group in mainland China for a total of RMB15 billion (US$2 billion), comprising a Guangzhou shopping mall and office buildings in Shenzhen and Shanghai. In Hong Kong, he also assisted Link REIT in the disposal of two large-scale retail portfolios for a total of HK$35 billion (US$4.5 billion), as well as closing the sale of two office buildings in East Kowloon for Wheelock Properties and Mapletree for a total of HK$19 billion (US$2.5 billion).

In 2019 & 2020, the total consideration of 51 major transactions completed by the Cushman & Wakefield Capital Markets teams in Greater China under the leadership of Francis exceeded RMB72 billion (US$11 billion). The team was crowned the winner of “The Best Deal of the Year” by RICS Hong Kong Awards for three consecutive years in 2018, 2019 & 2020 and RICS China Awards in 2020 & 2021, demonstrating the remarkable leadership of Francis in the real estate industry.

Francis Li co-founded CY Leung & Co in March 1993, a business which became part of Cushman & Wakefield in 2015. CY Leung & Co was a Hong Kong-based real estate service provider with a mission to provide professional services in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and beyond. Today, Cushman & Wakefield maintains 22 offices across Greater China with over 2,000 staff members.

Francis was President of the Rotary Club of Kwai Chung (1995-1996) and was a Member of the Allocations Committee of the Community Chest of Hong Kong (2001-2012). He was also the independent non-executive director (2002-2008) and consultant (2008-2010) for China Vanke Co Ltd (Shenzhen Stock Code:000002). He also served as a Member of The Advisory Committee of Harmony China Real Estate Fund, L.P. (2010-2014).