The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), which set up its India operations nearly three years ago, has now formed a new world region ‘RICS South Asia’ as it looks to strengthen its presence in the Asian subcontinent.
The ‘South Asia’ region comprises the countries of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal and has formally come into effect from 01 September 2011. Other RICS world regions include UK & Ireland, Latin America, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), South East Asia and Oceania.
As the MD and Country Head for RICS India, Sachin Sandhir has led the development and growth of the India region. After a very successful stint as head of India operations Sandhir will now be responsible for the expansion of the RICS brand in the wider South Asia region including India, as the Managing Director, RICS South Asia.
To support growth in this region, a nine-member RICS South Asia Board, including the Chairman, MD South Asia and seven members has been constituted. This board will report to the Management Board, which in turn reports to the RICS Governing Council. The Board is responsible for driving RICS’ corporate business plan and strategy, for overseeing its implementation as well as contributing to overall RICS plans by providing market insight from the region.
Anshuman Magazine, CMD, CBRE South Asia, has been appointed as Chairman, RICS South Asia Board. He will work closely with the RICS team and play a pivotal role in enhancing the RICS brand in South Asia by working as an ambassador of the RICS professional qualifications and standards and help build profile for the brand which will lead to more qualified professionals in the industry and help membership growth, and services in this strategically important market.
Taking on his new role as Chairman, RICS South Asia Board, Anshuman Magazine said, “I believe RICS has sown the seeds of professionalism in the local property markets. We at CBRE have been one of the first to follow RICS standards in valuations and other disciplines, much before the RICS entered the market in 2008. As RICS expands its presence in the Asian sub-continent, I am extremely proud to Chair the RICS South Asia Board. I expect RICS to become a name synonymous with quality and professionalism of people and standards in the real estate and construction sector. I believe that RICS will make a significant difference in creating a breed of qualified Chartered RICS professionals, who adhere to the highest standards of professionalism and ethics and also institutionalizing best practice and standards in the industry – thereby establishing RICS as the benchmark professional qualification and standard setting body in South Asia, like it is in other parts of the world”.
Sachin Sandhir said, “I am excited about the continued growth of the RICS in India, and in some of the other emerging South Asian markets and this enhanced role gives me a great platform to grow the influence of the RICS, and establish the RICS as the leading professional body for qualifications and standards in land, property and construction in this region. Much needs to be done to institutionalize standards, building qualified skilled trained chartered manpower and to improve the level of professionalism and transparency in India, and the wider South Asia region and I am delighted to have the opportunity to shape some of the changes in the region. RICS in South Asia would like to work as a Change agent and a Catalyst for Professionalism in the sector”.
After a stringent selection process, a nine member board has been constituted to provide strategic direction and drive growth in the region.
The Board will comprise of the following –
- Anshuman Magazine FRICS, CMD – CBRE South Asia (Chairman)
- Sachin Sandhir, Managing Director, RICS South Asia
- Firdose Vandrevala FRICS Chairman & Managing Director, Hirco Developments Pvt. Ltd.
- Sunil Agarwal FRICS, Managing Director, Black Olive Ventures P. Ltd
- Michael David Holland FRICS, CEO, Assetz Property Services (India) Pvt. Ltd.
- Lorimer Alexander Doig FRICS, Director, Indian Operations, Davis Langdon & Seah Consulting India Pvt Ltd
- Deepak Bajaj MRICS, Director- Investments & Projects, Unitech Advisors (India) Pvt. Ltd
- Jonathan Yach MRICS, CEO – PropCare Mall Management, Mantri Square
- Aditya Bhargava MRICS, Managing Director, SITQ India
RICS South Asia will also constitute a Strategic Advisory group of industry leaders which will work closely with the South Asia Board in the near future.
