METRO PROPERTIES has been divided into two business units with different strategic focus since 01 December 2022: Wholesale Real Estate and Mall & Highstreet.
The Wholesale Real Estate business unit focuses on activities with strategic relevance for METRO's wholesale business and the implementation of METRO's sCore growth strategy. This includes the development of intelligent solutions in the areas of delivery / Food Service Distribution (FSD), future-oriented location acquisitions and innovative energy management. Another focus is on the implementation of urban, high-quality project and district developments with attractive gastronomy and hospitality concepts (High Value Projects).
The METRO PROPERTIES Management Board of the Wholesale Real Estate business unit consists of Jürgen Schwarze (CEO), Nils Kulmann (CFO) and Oliver Borg (COO).
METRO PROPERTIES Mall & Highstreet is the independent business unit that emerged from METRO PROPERTIES and combines all retail and non-wholesale real estate activities of METRO in Germany, Poland and Turkey. With the aim of creating a value-optimised exit, the team operates a portfolio of high-quality properties that has been built up over the years and is leased to third-party tenants.
The Management Board of the Mall & Highstreet business unit consists of Jean-Christophe Bretxa (CEO), Oliver Steinert (CFO) and Dr Christian Gatzki (COO).
Management Board of the Wholesale Real Estate business unit
Jürgen Schwarze, Chief Executive Officer
Jürgen Schwarze has been managing director and CFO of METRO PROPERTIES since January 2013. He joined what was formerly METRO GROUP in September 2008 as Senior Vice President. After 3 years as Head of Group Audit and Advisory, Forensics and Security, he assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer of METRO Cash & Carry UK in 2011, where he oversaw the implementation of a comprehensive restructuring plan and then prepared and successfully saw through the sale of the company upon completion of the restructuring.
Prior to this, he was head of Strategic Planning at Haniel, a German family-equity company and a key METRO shareholder. Jürgen Schwarze began his career as a management consultant and as Senior Manager for Restructuring and Reorganisation at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young.
Areas of responsibility
- High Value Projects – Transactions
- Portfolio Management, Valuation & Research
- Legal
- HR
Jürgen Schwarze
Nils Kulmann, Chief Financial Officer
Nils Kulmann started his career at METRO AG in March 2008 as Head of Strategic Planning / Innovation. In November 2013, he joined the real estate company METRO PROPERTIES as Head of Corporate Development, followed by responsibility for Portfolio & Investment Management, before taking on the position of Vice President Region Europe in November 2015.
Before joining METRO, Nils Kulmann managed strategic projects for clients in the retail and industrial goods sectors at the strategic management consultancy The Boston Consulting Group and worked in the strategy division of Haniel.
Areas of responsibility
- Asset Management
- Energy Management
- Real Estate Finance & Accounting
- Real Estate Mergers & Acquisitions
Nils Kulmann
Oliver Borg, Chief Operating Officer
Oliver Borg started his career at METRO PROPERTIES in October 2005 in the Project Development department. He took over the responsibility as Head of Corporate Project Development and Region Germany METRO PROPERTIES in January 2012 and finally the position Vice President Project Development & Region Germany in April 2015.
Oliver Borg started his career in 2011 at Drees & Sommer, a consulting firm with strong specialisation and expertise in project management as well as complex construction projects and developments.
Areas of responsibility
- High Value Projects – Real Estate Development
- Operative Technical Solutions & Sustainability
- Studio / Conceptual Design & Planning / Marketing
Oliver Borg
Management Board of the Mall & Highstreet business unit
Jean-Christophe Bretxa
Jean-Christophe Bretxa, Managing Director and Chairman of the Board
Jean-Christophe Bretxa, formerly Chief Executive Officer METRO PROPERTIES, has been appointed Managing Director and Chairman of METRO PROPERTIES Mall & Highstreet.
Jean-Christophe started his career at METRO in June 2011 as Managing Director Region Western Europe METRO PROPERTIES, prior to assuming his former position in August 2012.
Areas of responsibility
- Asset Enhancement & Marketing
- PR & Internal Communications
- METRO PROPERTIES Poland & Turkey
Oliver Steinert
Oliver Steinert, Director Finance
Oliver Steinert, formerly Vice President Real Estate Finance METRO PROPERTIES, has been appointed Director Finance METRO PROPERTIES Mall & Highstreet, reporting to Jean-Christophe Bretxa.
Oliver started his career at METRO AG in February 2006 in Investor Relations, which he ran as Head of Corporate Investor Relations from October 2010 on. In February 2013 Oliver transferred as Head of Corporate Real Estate Finance to METRO PROPERTIES. One year later, he was appointed Director Real Estate Finance METRO PROPERTIES Germany prior to assuming his above mentioned position in April 2015.
Areas of responsibility
- Real Estate Controlling
- Risk & Process Management
- Balance Reporting
- Accounting
- Business Technology & Solutions
Dr. Christian Gatzki
Dr. Christian Gatzki, Director Operations
Dr. Christian Gatzki, formerly Vice President Accounting & Business Services METRO PROPERTIES, has been appointed Director Operations METRO PROPERTIES Mall & Highstreet, reporting to Jean-Christophe Bretxa.
Christian started his career at METRO in August 1997 and held various positions at Tip, Extra, Real and METRO GROUP Asset Management Turkey. He joined METRO PROPERTIES in July 2010 as Head of Accounting System Coordination International and transferred as Division Manager IT/IM, Processes, Procurement & Organization to METRO PROPERTIES Poland in August 2012. Christian took over the responsibility of Head of Real Estate Valuation & Data Services METRO PROPERTIES in January 2016, was appointed Head of Corporate Real Estate Valuation & Data Intelligence in July 2019 prior to assuming his former position in January 2021.
Areas of responsibility
- Asset Management
- Commercial & Technical Property Management
- Central Services
- Governance & Transformation
- HR + Staff Council
