The Other Side of Obstacles

My name is Sarkunan G Subramaniam or, as my friends call me, Sarky. I am the Executive Chairman of Knight Frank Malaysia and International Partner of Knight Frank LLP. My professional career in real estate spans over three decades, defined not just by corporate titles but by a leadership style rooted in resilience, loyalty and an unconventional approach to business.

Born in Kluang, Johor, and raised in the Transit Quarters of Kuantan, Pahang, my journey to the boardroom was paved with grit rather than privilege. From facing academic setbacks to scrubbing floors and driving a taxi to fund my education at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Melbourne, Australia, I learnt early that survival requires resourcefulness. My early professional foundation was uniquely forged at the Valuer General’s Office (VGO), where I balanced full-time work with night classes, gaining a technical edge that would later equip me in my professional journey.

Returning to Malaysia during the 1989 recession, I began my local career at Knight Frank Baillieu and later co-founded Pakatan Property Consultancy (PPC) during the Asian Financial Crisis — some of the toughest economic climates Malaysia has ever seen.

In 2006, I rejoined Eric Ooi, my former superior and by then my mentor, at Knight Frank Malaysia, and pivoted from technical valuation to high-stakes corporate real estate agency — including the massive Shell Malaysia office relocation exercise measuring 700,000 sq ft and Permodalan Nasional Bhd’s (PNB) £850 million acquisition in London, UK.

Appointed as Managing Director in 2013, my tenure was driven by the 4Fs — Family, Fun, Future and Fees — underscoring a steadfast commitment to both the firm and our people. As a leader known for decisiveness tempered by empathy, Eric and I also went on to dilute our own stakes to empower a partnership of 26 shareholders (as at 2025). Today, I focus on strategy and mentorship, teaching the next generation about the value of “growing together”.

Some of my professional recognitions include:

• Outstanding Individual in Industry by RFP Magazine (Hong Kong) in 2011 for the successful Shell office relocation
• Property Manager of the Year by the Board of Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and Property Managers (The Board) in 2016
• CEO of the Year by the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents in 2019

I am a Registered Valuer, Estate Agent and Property Manager with The Board of Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and Property Managers in Malaysia, and was a Registered Valuer in Victoria before returning to Malaysia. I am also a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and a Fellow of the Australian Property Institute (API). From 2015 to 2018, I was the President of the Malaysian Institute of Property & Facilities Managers (MIPFM).

I am also a Chartered Arbitrator with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and have been a panel arbitrator at the Asian International Arbitration Centre since 2017. I hold a Bachelor of Business in Property (Investment) and an Associate Diploma in Valuation from RMIT.