Bernhard Berg will become the new management spokesman of Corpus Sireo Holding GmbH and CEO of the German real estate company as of 1 June 2016. The 57-year old internationally experienced real estate specialist joins Corpus Sireo from Hannover Leasing. Bernhard Berg will succeed Ralph Günther, who at the same time, after seven years of leading Corpus Sireo as CEO, will take on the position as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the company. As Chairman of the “Investment Committee Real Estate” and member of the “Management Committee Real Estate” of Swiss Life Asset Managers in Zürich, Ralph Günther will also assume co-responsibility for the international expansion. Ingo Hartlief, COO of Corpus Sireo, will at the same time be appointed Deputy Spokesman of Management of the Cologne-based company.
“We are very pleased that, with Bernhard Berg, we have been able to secure a leading personality with international experience particularly in the institutional field for Corpus Sireo”, says Stefan Mächler, Group Chief Investment Officer of Swiss Life and current Chairman of the Corpus Sireo Supervisory Board. Stefan Mächler continues: "Bernhard Berg has an impressive track record as an investment specialist and is very familiar with the real estate sector as well as the insurance industry. He will focus on significantly strengthening the strong position of Corpus Sireo in Germany and will assume co-responsibility for pressing ahead with the Europe-wide expansion of the real estate sector of Swiss Life Asset Managers.“
Bernhard Berg joins Corpus Sireo with 25 years of experience in the insurance industry
Bernhard Berg has gained experience in the insurance sector in various positions during a total period of around 25 years. In his most recent position, he worked for two years at Hannover Leasing Investment GmbH, Pullach, where he was responsible as Managing Director for asset purchasing and structuring as well as sales in the field of institutional investors. As Management Spokesman of the former IVG Institutional Funds GmbH, the economist Bernhard Berg has previously spent a period of four years as head of the company, which was the market leader at that time, where he was responsible for Europe-wide business with institutional investors.
Ingo Hartlief to expand range of responsibilities
Ingo Hartlief will become the new Deputy Spokesman of the Corpus Sireo executive management. He joined the Cologne-based company from Union Investment in July 2010, and since that time, has successfully further developed the B2B business of Corpus Sireo as COO. In his new role, Ingo Hartlief will be responsible not only for asset management and key account support but also for the set-up of a new investment management company (KVG) by Corpus Sireo in Germany.
Ralph Günther, the designated Chairman of the Corpus Sireo Supervisory Board, says: “With Ingo Hartlief, we have a very experienced fund and real estate manager on board, who will contribute his many years of knowhow from international real estate business to his position at Corpus Sireo. We are therefore pleased that, with Ingo Hartlief, we will have a personality with a long-term entrepreneurial mindset at the head of Corpus Sireo."
As the new Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Corpus Sireo, Ralph Günther will focus particularly on the further interlinking of the business activities of Corpus Sireo and the Swiss Life Group and on expanding the international activities of the insurer in the asset class real estate. Ralph Günther will continue to be the CEO of Corpus Sireo until 31 May 2016 in order to ensure a smooth transition to Bernhard Berg.
Ralph Günther to focus on expansion of transnational real estate activities
Stefan Mächler says: “We are very grateful to Ralph Günther for his many years of great personal commitment. He has had a vital and successful impact on Corpus Sireo and, in recent years, has further developed the company into one of the most respected real estate companies in Germany. We are very pleased that Ralph Günther will be heavily involved in further expanding our real estate business.”
Responsibility for the Real Estate Development and Agency arm of the Cologne based firm will be assumed by Michael Westerhove from 1 July 2016. He will therefore become a member of the Corpus Sireo “Executive Committee". As Corpus Sireo’s new "Chief Development Officer (CDO)” Michael Westerhove will also be responsible for distinctive development activities in the commercial sector such as the new Allianz Insurance headquarters in Berlin-Adlershof. Dr. Bernd Wieberneit will continue to be responsible for the larger part of the company’s Shared Services as CFO.
