PropertyGuru Group, Southeast Asia’s leading proptech company, has appointed Lu Yao as its new managing director for Singapore, effective 15 September. In this role, he will oversee the growth of PropertyGuru’s marketplace business in Singapore, shaping strategies that deliver greater value to property seekers and industry partners. Lu Yao will join the group’s executive leadership team (XLT) and report directly to chief executive officer Lewis Ng.
Lu Yao, managing director, Singapore at PropertyGuru.
He brings with him extensive experience in e-commerce and marketplaces, with a proven record in driving growth, building operations, and leading large teams across Asia. Most recently, he served as group head of marketplace and chief commercial officer for Bangladesh at Daraz Group (Alibaba International Digital Commerce), where he spearheaded the company’s commercial strategy in South Asia and led growth transformation in Bangladesh.
Prior to that, Lu Yao led Shopee Singapore’s FMCG cluster and mall, developing its retail and last-mile delivery businesses from the ground up. Earlier in his career, he worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company in China, advising on strategy and organisational transformation, and contributed to R&D innovation at Dow Chemicals in the United States.
As managing director, Lu Yao will be responsible for driving business and growth strategies, leading the commercial and sales teams, mentoring the country leadership team, and overseeing operations in Singapore. His role within the XLT will also see him contribute to shaping PropertyGuru’s wider regional strategy.
CEO Lewis Ng welcomed the appointment, saying:
“Lu’s expertise in marketplaces and his ability to scale businesses with a customer-first approach will be crucial for our next phase of growth. We are delighted to have him on board as we continue to innovate and deliver meaningful solutions for property seekers, agents, and partners in Singapore.”
Commenting on his appointment, Lu Yao said:
“PropertyGuru has redefined how people across Singapore and Southeast Asia find their dream homes. I am honoured to join the team and look forward to building on that legacy, strengthening trust with property seekers and partners, and driving the next chapter of growth and innovation in the proptech space.”
