Founder of WTW passes away at 92 years old

PETALING JAYA (March 8): Real estate veteran Colin Harold Williams (pictured), who founded the WTW real estate valuation and consultancy companies in Malaysia, passed away at the age of 92 on March 5. 

CBRE|WTW announced the passing of Williams in a statement today.

“The CBRE|WTW family is deeply saddened by the passing of Colin Harold Williams. We feel deeply for his passing and for the loss of a great person.  May God’s mercy and grace be upon him,” said the real estate consultancy.

“Colin Williams will always be remembered for his generous philosophy of putting people first working tirelessly in safeguarding and championing the employees’ interest. His initiative in affording fully sponsored training courses to staff to further their careers and for personal development will always be remembered by those who have benefited from the initiative, many of whom are now successful registered valuers,” it added.

Colin Williams established the firm C H Williams & Co, Chartered Surveyors, Valuers and Estate Agents in Kuala Lumpur in 1960 after having established a similar practice in Singapore in 1958.

He founded the WTW companies of C H Williams Talhar & Wong Sdn Bhd in Peninsula Malaysia in 1974, followed by C H Williams Talhar Wong and Yeo in East Malaysia in 1975, and C H Williams Talhar & Wong (Sabah) Sdn Bhd in 1977.

Before founding WTW, he had established C H Williams & Co offices in Hong Kong and Jakarta, introducing professional valuation, real estate agency, property management and property consultancy to the region.

“These practices which now continue to flourish under the CBRE and CBRE|WTW banner bear testimony to his vision and foresight. Colin determinedly set the professional standard of practice for the property services in private practice and paved the way for the future generation of practitioners to follow,” CBRE|WTW said in the statement.

Upon his retirement in 1981, Colin remained actively engaged and continue to inspire those who he trained and who had the privilege of working alongside him. His name and reputation for quality continues to inspire those in the company who did not have the opportunity to work closely with him or those who may not know him in person.