Helvetica, one of the leading real estate fund and asset management companies, is taking organizational measures to optimally align with the future. The management team will be leaner and partly replaced, while the portfolio will be optimized and the value chain expanded through the integration of property management.
- Strategic expansion of the value chain with integrated management
- Investing in digital transformation to increase efficiency and customer focus
- Strengthening the management with leaner corporate management
- Consistent follow-up of the fund and portfolio optimization strategy
Growth and consolidation
After an intensive growth phase and in the context of new market dynamics, Helvetica is increasingly focusing on consolidation, portfolio optimization and risk management. This further optimizes portfolio returns and adapts the funds to the new market conditions. At the same time, the company’s management will be even more focused on the challenges of the future. In the current uncertain and challenging market environment, the company’s strategic management calls for a focus on an even stronger focus on the needs of investors and thus on lean and efficient processes as well as a high level of digitalization.
Portfolio optimization through the sale of non-strategic properties as part of the strategy began in spring 2023 and will be consistently pursued. At the same time, Helvetica is sticking to the planned listing of the Helvetica Swiss Living Fund (HSL Fund) by the end of 2024 at the latest and is preparing the planned merger of the Helvetica Swiss Opportunity Fund (HSO Fund) with the listed Helvetica Swiss Commercial Fund (HSC Fund) in order to to create more liquidity for their investors. This is still subject to approval by FINMA.
Personnel reinforcement
As of January 2024, Urs Kunz will take on the role of CCO, Head Sales & Marketing and become a member of the management board. Urs Kunz has years of experience in the Swiss financial and real estate market and replaces Salman Baday, the previous Head Sales & Marketing, who, after six successful years in the Helvetica team, has decided to break new ground. During this time, Salman Baday made a decisive contribution to the prosperous development of Helvetica. Lucas Schlageter, Head Portfolio Management, has decided to leave Helvetica after more than four intensive and committed years. The new management consists of Hans R. Holdener, Peter R. Vogel and Urs Kunz. The replacement of the Head of Portfolio Management is imminent and will be communicated in due course.
«I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for the great efforts of Salman Baday and Lucas Schlageter over the last few years. Their names are closely linked to our successful growth story. We wish them all the best for their future careers,” says Hans R. Holdener, CEO of Helvetica.
This process goes hand in hand with an adjustment to the company’s personnel management. Andreas Benz has been responsible for business development since the beginning of the year. With Thomas Stadelmann, Helvetica was able to sign an experienced Head of Legal, Risk and Compliance at the beginning of September 2023, and the role of Head of Marketing and Communications will be taken over by Patricia Neupert from October, who has many years of experience in the real estate and capital markets. At group level, Michel Hafner has also joined as Head Property Management, who leads the integration of management as an additional element of the value chain.
“The consistent focus on a new market situation gives us the opportunity to further develop Helvetica with new forces and new ideas. Our team, consisting of over 30 experts, is very well positioned to achieve our strategic goals,” says Dr. Hans Ueli Keller, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Helvetica.
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