Prudential Real Estate Investors, the real estate investment management and advisory business of Prudential Financial, has strengthened its Asia-Pacific business with a new appointment.

Morgan Laughlin is now head of the Asia business, responsible for the firm's operations and strategy in Asia-Pacific. Based in Tokyo, he takes over from Victoria Shigehira Sharpe, who has taken a new position in the global institutional relationship division of Prudential Investment Management in Singapore. 

Laughlin was previously the regional director for Asia-Pacific real estate at Grosvenor Fund Management. Prior to that, he held several roles at Royal Bank of Scotland, Deutsche Bank, Bankers Trust Company and Paine Webber.

PREI had around $8 billion in gross assets under management in Asia as of 31 December 2012. It invests in commercial real estate markets in Japan, South Korea, South East Asia, China, India and Australia. It also operates in the region as Pramerica Real Estate Investors.