From photojournalism ambitions to property, Josh Hu took an unexpected route into the family business

Josh Hu, the 44-year-old managing director of AW & Sons Capital, once aspired to become a photojournalist. Raised in a family known for its reclusiveness, Hu has intentionally kept a low profile despite his prominent surname – a nod to his father's Aw Kim Chen, who founded Aw & Sons Group in 1971. Now, Hu's creative instincts have found a home in property development, particularly in Mber, a hybrid of co-living rooms and serviced apartments.

Despite his family's media-shy nature, Hu remains guarded about sharing the family story, preferring to reveal exactly as much as deemed necessary. AW & Sons Group, rooted in Singapore's real estate boom, now spans international operations with a unique approach to property development that prioritizes location, design, brand, customer needs, and financial viability.

Hu's father, a prudent businessman, entrusted him with a small plot in Jalan Jurong Kechil, where he made his first foray into redevelopment, later selling the houses. This marked a pivotal moment, demonstrating that property could be more than a financial instrument; it could be a medium for creative expression. Hu's projects, such as Mber and the North Canal Road development, reflect his family's patient, step-by-step approach to wealth-building, emphasizing stability and long-term growth over quick returns.