European energy consultancy Westbridge Group has planted its flag in Spain's lucrative real estate market, launching a dedicated Madrid office as part of an aggressive Southern European expansion strategy that positions the firm to capitalise on surging demand for ESG compliance services.
The Frankfurt-headquartered firm's new Spanish subsidiary, Westbridge Advisory Spain S.L.U., arrives at a critical juncture as Spain's property sector grapples with increasingly stringent EU sustainability regulations. With the residential market alone valued at approximately €163bn and growing at 6.90% annually, industry insiders suggest the timing couldn't be more strategic.
Javier Rodriguez-Irizabal will spearhead the Madrid operation as Head of Sales Iberia, bringing battle-tested experience from Drooms, where he drove market expansion across the Iberian peninsula. His team includes Gonzalo Salgado as Director of Sales and Iñigo Diaz de Bustamante as Sales Consultant, both veterans of the digital real estate solutions sector.
"Our entry into Spain marks the next milestone in our internationalisation strategy. We firmly believe that we need to be locally anchored to achieve the best possible results for our clients," explains Yama Mahasher, Chief Executive Officer of Westbridge. "We are investing specifically into local teams to combine our promise of consistent quality throughout Europe with regional market expertise."
What hasn't been widely reported is the potential goldmine this represents for Spanish developers and investors. With the European Green Deal mandating carbon neutrality by 2050, properties without ESG credentials face dramatic value depreciation, creating a massive arbitrage opportunity for savvy investors who act first on sustainability compliance.
The Madrid launch reinforces Westbridge's position as Europe's dominant energy consultancy, now commanding over 200 specialists across seven countries, including subsidiaries agradblue, Magnolia Consulting, and the Quantrefy platform. "With our team in Madrid, we are bringing together proximity, expertise and reliability. These are crucial components for the sustainable transformation of real estate portfolios in the region," adds Mahasher.
People Mentioned:
- Yama Mahasher - Chief Executive Officer, Westbridge Group
- Javier Rodriguez-Irizabal - Head of Sales Iberia, Westbridge Advisory Spain S.L.U.
- Gonzalo Salgado - Director of Sales, Westbridge Advisory Spain S.L.U.
- Iñigo Diaz de Bustamante - Sales Consultant, Westbridge Advisory Spain S.L.U.
Companies Mentioned:
- Westbridge Group - Leading European energy and sustainability consultancy for real estate
- Westbridge Advisory Spain S.L.U. - New Spanish subsidiary of Westbridge Group
- Drooms - Provider of AI-driven virtual data rooms
- agradblue GmbH - Westbridge subsidiary for digital ESG reporting and building certifications
- Magnolia Consulting GmbH - Westbridge subsidiary for regulatory requirements and decarbonisation
- Quantrefy - Platform providing ESG and impact management software solutions
Image Credit: Javier Rodriguez-Irizabal | Credit: Belén Echevarría
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