Global property consultant Knight Frank, which believes it has lost ground over the past few years to more competitive international players operating in Hong Kong, is determined to catch up as the local economy picks up.
Colin Fitzgerald, who became the firm's managing director in March, said he would strengthen the firm's sales and leasing businesses by expanding its international and local client base. He hopes to do so by beefing up manpower from 118 to 150 employees.
'To be honest, Knight Frank has fallen behind its competitors in the Hong Kong market,' Mr Fitzgerald said. 'What we failed to do was promote ourselves effectively. A lot of people don't realise we have been here for as long as we have.'
He said the company, which launched its Hong Kong operations in 1983, had been less focused on the Hong Kong market in the past few years chiefly because of economic uncertainties.
'But the fundamentals here have become solid,' he said. 'The coming 10 to 20 years promise to be pretty assured.'
Mr Fitzgerald said the volatility of the Hong Kong market was still a risk, but pointed out that taking a gamble was part of the business.