Deutsche Pfandbriefbank has announced a re-organisation of origination within its real estate finance business, and confirmed the promotion of Charles Balch.
The German bank said that, in future, overall responsibility for international and cross-border investors will lie with a central team in the London office.
The acquisition and support of individual business deals will continue to be managed by local offices, depending on the relevant situation.
It said the British market will continue to be managed from London, as will the region of Central and Eastern Europe, which is often a focus for international investors.
A second international origination team will concentrate primarily on international customers with a local or more regional focus on the markets in France, Spain and Scandinavia.
Origination in Germany will continue to be carried out by an independent team.
As a result of the re-organisation, the head of real estate finance Germany, Reinhold Günther, will leave the bank in April after more than 30 years at the company.
The new head of origination for real estate finance business in Germany will be Gerhard Meitinger. He has been responsible for business with international and institutional customers in Germany since January 2005, and has more than 20 years’ experience in various roles at the bank and its predecessor institutions.
As of 1 June, Charles Balch will take on responsibility for cross-border business for the UK and CEE, replacing Harin Thaker, who left the bank in January.
In the past, Balch has held a number of management functions within European real estate origination at the bank, and is chief credit officer for its strategic portfolio.
Bernhard Scholz, a member of Deutsche Pfandbriefbank’s management board responsible for real estate finance and public investment finance, said: “We are further organising our structure to match the needs of our customers. At the same time, with the re-organisation of origination, we are strengthening our market penetration – something which we view as an important factor for our success. With Charles Balch and Gerhard Meitinger, we have proven experts in origination for these important tasks.
“We thank Reinhold Günther for his successful work over many years at pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank and its predecessor organisations. He has, over a long period of time, made a significant impact on our real estate finance business in Germany”.
bridget.oconnell@estatesgazette.com
