PLB co-founder Adrian Lim rejoins PropNex with 36 agents after leadership controversy fallout

SINGAPORE: PropertyLimBrothers (PLB) co-founder Adrian Lim has returned to PropNex Realty, where he began his real estate career, four months after controversy surrounding the boutique agency led to the resignation of two senior leaders.

In a news release issued on 13 May 2026, PropNex confirmed that Adrian Lim had rejoined the agency as Senior Associate Group District Director.

The company also announced that 22 salespersons from PLB Realty had successfully joined PropNex, while another 15 were awaiting approval from the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA).

The latest move marks a significant development in Singapore’s property agency sector following months of turbulence at PLB.

Return to former agency

PropNex said Adrian Lim first entered the real estate industry with the agency in 2010 before leaving in 2022 to establish PLB Realty together with fellow co-founder Melvin Lim.

Before transitioning into property sales, both men had served as prison officers and left the civil service in 2007.

According to PropNex, Adrian Lim became one of the agency’s top-performing leaders during his earlier stint and was recognised consistently as a PropNex Millionaire.

Commenting on his return, Adrian Lim described the move as a natural step for his team.

“Returning to PropNex felt like a natural decision for us,” he said.

“The company’s strong culture, extensive network, and commitment to innovation provide an excellent platform for our team to continue growing and delivering value to clients.”

PropNex chief executive Kelvin Fong welcomed the return of Adrian Lim and his team.

“We are delighted to welcome Adrian and his team back to the PropNex family,” said Kelvin Fong.

“Adrian has built a highly respected brand within the industry and is recognised for his creativity, strong digital presence, and innovative approach to property marketing.”

Leadership controversy at PLB

The return comes after PLB faced intense public scrutiny earlier this year following allegations involving an extramarital affair between PLB co-founder and former chief executive Melvin Lim and the company’s then vice-president of strategy, Grayce Tan.

Both resigned from the company on 25 January.

Marc Chan, formerly PLB’s vice-president of operations, subsequently assumed the role of interim chief executive.

Adrian Lim remained with the company following the resignations and later said PLB had introduced measures aimed at strengthening governance.

In an interview with The Straits Times on 9 March, Adrian Lim said the company had launched an anonymous whistle-blowing channel for agents and employees to raise concerns.

“In March, I spoke publicly about strengthening trust and governance at PLB. That work mattered then and it remains important,” he said.

“As circumstances have evolved, my responsibility to my clients and to the team I lead has had to come first.”

He did not elaborate further on the circumstances behind his departure from PLB Realty.

According to The Straits Times, Adrian Lim remains a shareholder in PLB but does not hold any operational position or directorship within the company.

When asked about the implications of his move for PLB, Adrian Lim reportedly said he was no longer involved in the company’s operations and could not comment on its strategy or ongoing matters.

Restructuring and agent departures

PLB has faced additional operational challenges in recent months.

In February, the agency lost top-performing property agent Rayne Chua and her team to rival agency ERA.

In April, PLB disputed reports regarding the scale of retrenchments within its media division after a report by The Edge suggested significant layoffs.

The company said the figures circulating publicly were inaccurate and had negatively affected its business.

PLB stated that the retrenchments involved “a defined group” within its local media and back-end operations as part of a broader restructuring initiative.

The company said the restructuring aimed to transition parts of its media and administrative functions into a more streamlined and technology-driven operating model.

PLB was founded in 2017 and became widely recognised for its property home tour videos, online marketing strategies and digital property analysis content.

According the Statista’s 2025 ranking of Singapore’s fastest-growing companies, PLB was placed seventh on the list.

The company recorded revenue of approximately S$6.5 million in 2023. As at 13 May, PLB had 53 registered agents.

PropNex, meanwhile, said it had 14,333 agents as of 12 May, making it Singapore’s largest property agency by headcount.