Savills Investment Management has appointed Ilona Szafer as its new Head of Poland.
Szafer previously held the position of Head of Asset Management Retail within the firm’s Polish operations. As Head of Poland, she will be responsible for the development and execution of Savills IM’s strategy there, where it manages a diverse portfolio of approximately EUR 1.7 billion in assets across the office, logistics, and retail sectors. Based in the Warsaw office, she will oversee day-to-day operations of the local team and its investment, acquisition, and asset-management strategy, working closely with Savills IM’s Head of Europe, Kevin Aitchison, and Head of Asset Management Juan Miguel Marinas Redondo.
Szafer has 20 years of experience, with roles at pan-European investment manager MARK Capital Management (when it was known as Meyer Bergman_, IMMOFINANZ, and TriGranit. She has been with Savills IM since it first entered Poland in 2017.
Savills IM manages EUR 26.1 billion of assets in the Living, Industrial & Logistics, Debt, Natural Capital, Office, and Retail sectors across the UK, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.
“We have an established presence in the Polish market and we see a particular opportunity in the office, logistics, and retail sectors,” said Szafer. “I’m looking forward to leading a team of highly qualified professionals to deliver on our investment objectives and expand our portfolio. My priority will be to continue implementing a strategy rooted in highly selective acquisitions supported by active asset management programmes, ensuring we achieve alignment with client expectations and a response to evolving market conditions.”
“Ilona’s appointment represents an important next step in the evolution of our strategy in Poland,” noted Kevin Aitchison, Managing Director, Head of Europe, Savills Investment Management. “We secured early mover advantage by entering into the country almost a decade ago and remain committed as long-term investors, where we can leverage our local expertise to unearth favorable opportunities and capital solutions for our investors. The Polish market forms part of a diversified pan-European portfolio that is strategically invested in Europe’s strongest economies and in defensive, structurally-supported sectors with clear growth potential.”