Savills Investment Management has named Ilona Szafer as Head of Poland, tasking her with spearheading strategy across its €1.7bn portfolio spanning office, logistics and retail assets. Based in Warsaw, Szafer brings two decades of experience and a deep understanding of the Polish market, having been with the firm since it entered the country in 2017.
Her promotion comes as the firm doubles down on its regional presence, which now covers around 1.5 million m² of space in Poland. The country continues to attract long-term investors due to its resilient economic fundamentals, attractive yield spreads and a growing occupier base across industrial and urban office sectors.
“We have an established presence in the Polish market and we see a particular opportunity in the office, logistics and retail sectors,” said Ilona Szafer, Head of Poland at Savills IM. “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.”
Szafer will work alongside Kevin Aitchison, Head of Europe, and Juan Miguel Marinas Redondo, Head of Asset Management. Savills IM’s Polish expansion reflects a broader European strategy focused on high-conviction, defensive sectors with long-term growth dynamics.
“Ilona’s appointment represents an important next step in the evolution of our strategy in Poland,” added Kevin Aitchison. “We secured early mover advantage by entering the country almost a decade ago and remain committed as long-term investors, where we can leverage our local expertise to unearth favourable opportunities and capital solutions for our investors.”
Investors will note that Poland’s logistics market, while rapidly maturing, still offers cost advantages and scalability for development, especially in urban and secondary locations. Savills IM, which manages €26.1bn globally, is positioning its Polish holdings to benefit from this growth while aligning assets with ESG and energy efficiency expectations from occupiers.
People mentioned:
Ilona Szafer – Head of Poland, Savills Investment Management
Kevin Aitchison – Managing Director, Head of Europe, Savills Investment Management
Juan Miguel Marinas Redondo – Head of Asset Management, Savills Investment Management
Companies mentioned:
Savills Investment Management – International real estate investment manager
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