Nam Long Taps Investment Veteran as Interim CEO After Executive Exit

Leadership Transition at Vietnamese Developer

Nam Long Investment Corporation has installed Nguyen Thanh Huong as acting group chief executive officer after Lucas Ignatius Loh Jen Yuh tendered his resignation from the position, according to a Board of Directors resolution. Loh will step down as group CEO and relinquish his role as the company's second legal representative effective September 1, 2026, though he will retain his seat on the board.

The transition comes after Loh submitted his resignation on July 27, prompting the board to move quickly on an interim appointment. Huong assumed the acting CEO role on July 28, tasked with overseeing management and operations across the group during the search period.

Deep Bench in Investment and Finance

Huong brings more than 30 years of experience spanning investment, finance, and real estate to the corner office. Her career trajectory includes senior leadership positions at some of Vietnam's largest conglomerates and financial institutions. She has served as chief executive officer, chief strategy officer, and chief investment officer at organizations including Vingroup, Sovico Group, SSI, and HSBC.

Before her promotion, Huong held the position of group chief investment officer at Nam Long, where she was instrumental in cultivating investment partnerships with Japanese capital sources. That work has become increasingly important as Vietnamese developers seek offshore funding amid tighter domestic credit conditions.

Continuity and Strategy

Nguyen Xuan Quang, chairman of Nam Long's Board of Directors, signaled continuity in the company's strategic direction despite the executive shuffle. The board intends to work closely with Huong to execute the development strategy, enhance competitiveness, and create sustainable value for shareholders, customers, and stakeholders, he said in a statement.

During the transition, Quang will also directly oversee the Township and Residential Development division in his capacity as chairman of the Members' Council of Nam Long Land Investment Company Limited, the group's development arm. The dual oversight arrangement suggests the board is taking a hands-on approach to ensure operational stability while the CEO search unfolds.

Context for the Move

The leadership change arrives as Vietnamese real estate developers navigate a challenging operating environment. Credit access remains constrained following the government's deleveraging campaign that began in late 2022, and developers have turned to joint ventures, asset sales, and offshore capital to maintain project pipelines.

Nam Long has pursued a township development model, focusing on large-scale residential projects in Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding provinces. The company's ability to attract Japanese institutional investors has been a differentiator in a crowded market, and Huong's track record in that area likely factored into the board's decision to elevate her on an interim basis.

The timing of Loh's departure, with a month's notice before his official exit, provides a window for handover and continuity planning. Whether Huong will be named permanent CEO or the board will conduct a broader search remains to be seen. For now, the company is betting on internal continuity and deep local expertise to steady the ship.