BNP Paribas Real Estate, the international property arm of French banking giant BNP Paribas, has launched two new platforms to enable Asian investment into European real estate.

The platforms, introduced in Hong Kong and Singapore, strengthens the company's range of offerings in the region, which span the entire real estate life cycle: from property development to property management and investment management.

Three senior appointments were made as part of the launch.

Mark Kumarasinhe is now managing director for North Asia, based in Hong Kong. Kumarasinhe was previously a director at Macquarie Bank and the chief investment officer of Macquarie Office Trust. He joins the firm from CBRE Capital Advisors where he was the head of Asia. He reports to Paul Yang, chief executive for Hong Kong.

Also based in Hong Kong is Mathieu Brummer, who takes the role of deputy head, Hong Kong. He was previously an international investment director with BNP Paribas Real Estate's Frankfurt office. He reports to Kumarasinhe.

In Singapore, Yo-Hann Tan is managing director for South Asia. Tan joins from Singapore investment firm Richard Chandler Corporation, where he was senior vice president. Prior to that, he was deputy CEO of Aareal Bank Asia where he led the real estate lending business. Tan reports locally to Jean-Pierre Bernard, the CEO for Singapore and regional head of South East Asia. 

"These platforms will help Asian investors source and manage real estate assets in Europe through a contact based in their local market, using on-the-ground experts," said Philippe Zivkovic, executive chairman for BNP Paribas Real Estate. 

The firm says it plans to do the same for investors in the Middle East by opening a platform in Dubai.

BNP Paribas Real Estate has a presence in 34 countries with more than 180 offices and 3,300 staff.