SINGAPORE - Mr Lim Beng Chee, the former chief executive officer (CEO) of CapitaMalls Asia, now known as CapitaLand Mall Asia, has been earmarked as the new CEO of Shangri-La Asia.

Mr Lim, 48, was today appointed a non-executive director of the Hong Kong-listed hotel group. From Jan 1, 2017, he will be redesignated as an executive director as well as CEO, succeeding Mr Kuok Khoon Chen.

Mr Kuok, 62, will also relinquish his role as chairman to his sister, Hui Kwong, on Jan 1.

Ms Kuok, 38, was a non-executive director from October 2014 to June 2016 and has been an executive director and deputy chairman of the board since June.

She is a daughter of Malaysia's richest man, Mr Robert Kuok. She started her career as a financial journalist at South China Morning Post and became CEO of SCMP Group in 2009. She handed over that role to Mr Robin Hu in 2012.

Prior to his appointment to the board, Mr Lim provided short-term consultancy services to the Shangri-La group through Wind Group, which is deemed to be wholly-owned by him.

He is currently a non-executive director and member of the audit committee of Changi Airports International, an executive director and the owner of Wind Group and a non-executive director of SCPG Holdings Co.

Mr Lim is best known for his leadership role at CapitaLand Mall Asia, one of the largest shopping mall developers, owners and managers in Asia.

He has more than 15 years of experience in retail real estate investment, development, mall operations, asset management and fund management in Asia.