'Shark Hung' unexpectedly resigns from real estate brokerage Cen Land ahead of AGM

Pham Thanh Hung, widely known as “Shark Hung”, has stepped down from the board of directors at Century Real Estate JSC (Cen Land) - a major Vietnamese real estate brokerage, citing "personal plans".

Cen Land (HoSE: CRE) said on April 29 that it had received Hung’s resignation letter from its board of directors.

In the letter, Hung said that although he had been elected to the board for the 2023–2028 term, he now wished to dedicate time to personal plans and pursue new directions, prompting his decision to step down.

The senior leadership change comes as the company prepares to hold its annual general meeting on May 22.

Business performance

Cen Land reported net revenue of over VND1.32 trillion ($50.2 million) in 2025, down 14% year-on-year.

However, pre-tax profit rose more than 77% to VND101 billion ($3.83 million), while net profit increased nearly 80% to VND75 billion ($2.85 million).

As of end-2025, total assets stood at over VND7.54 trillion ($286.24 million), up VND364 billion ($13.8 million) from the start of the year. Short-term receivables accounted for VND5.8 trillion ($219.95 million), while inventories reached VND691 billion. Cash and cash equivalents rose nearly fourfold to VND115 billion ($4.36 million).

On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), CRE shares edged up 0.9% to VND7,670 ($0.29) on Wednesday.

Hung's profile

Born in 1972 in Hanoi, Hung is a prominent real estate entrepreneur and a familiar face on the television show Shark Tank Vietnam, where he earned the nickname “Shark Hung.”

He has been associated with Cen Land since 2008 and currently holds more than 15.6 million CRE shares, equivalent to a 3.4% stake. Prior to his resignation, he served as vice chairman of the board and the company’s spokesperson.

Hung also holds positions across related entities, including roles at Century Group, Century Valuation JSC and Cen Academy.

Clarification amid online speculation

His departure comes as he recently addressed unverified information circulating on social media about himself.

In a public statement, Hung said recent online claims were inaccurate and had been interpreted in different ways, urging the public to rely on official sources.

He also clarified that his startup investment activities are conducted in a personal capacity and have no legal, financial or operational links with Cen Land.

“In a sensitive market environment, unverified or incomplete information can affect investor and shareholder sentiment. I therefore chose to speak up early to clarify and avoid misunderstandings,” he said.

The statement was posted around the same time as confirmation that Shark Tank Vietnam had ceased operations at the end of 2025, according to the show’s production team.