We are pleased to welcome Thomas Hodel as our new CEO and wish him a successful start. With an overseen transaction volume of around CHF 2.6 billion, Thomas is a proven expert in the Swiss property market and joins us after six years at CBRE Switzerland, where he was most recently responsible for the retail and office property brokerage business. We are convinced that Thomas will lead our company into a successful future together with the team thanks to his in-depth market knowledge, extensive network, experience in management positions, and his high level of personal motivation.

Thomas holds a Master of Arts in Business & Economics from the University of Zurich and is a certified Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA).

Why did you decide to join Julius Baer Real Estate Ltd.

For me, joining Julius Baer Real Estate Ltd. is an exciting opportunity to play an active role in shaping a company with a long tradition and Swiss values in a market environment increasingly characterised by international players. By expanding its real estate expertise, the Group Julius Baer has set the right course to play a key role in the Swiss property market. Contributing to this further development together with an experienced and motivated team fills me with great anticipation and pride, both professionally and personally.

What is your vision and what are your goals for the coming months?

Following the renaming, I would like to use the momentum to position Julius Baer Real Estate Ltd. even more strongly as a point of contact for all property-related issues. In this context, it is important to present our product offering precisely not only to existing clients but also to new clients so that we can provide them with even more comprehensive support for their projects. In particular, the bank’s internal knowledge of our holistic advisory approach also plays an important role, and I expect to see synergies on both sides as a result.

How would you describe your personal management style?

My job is to create a supportive environment in which our employees can realise their full potential and thus make the greatest possible contribution to the development of the company. I attach great importance to open dialogue and a strong team spirit, but at the same time I also expect a high degree of personal responsibility.

What do you think is the unique selling point of Julius Baer Real Estate? What characterises us and what added value do we offer our clients compared to our competitors?

One of our many unique selling points is Julius Baer’s well-known brand as a renowned private bank with assets under management of roughly CHF 500 billion. Thanks to the values we practise, such as discretion and professionalism, we enjoy a high level of trust as a competent partner and can therefore draw on a valuable network of potential clients. As a service provider, together with the Julius Baer Group we can offer a more holistic service than many of our competitors. In this respect, for example, we are not only in a position to support our clients in the sale of the apartment building financed by Julius Baer, but also to advise them on the reinvestment of the resulting proceeds - whether in real estate or another asset class.

What does your perfect Sunday look like?

Being from central Switzerland, I’m drawn to the mountains in the winter months when the weather is nice. With a flat white in my hand, I head for the ski resort early in the morning, where I hope to be one of the first on the piste. After an intense morning on the skis, I like to end the afternoon on a sun terrace playing cards. In the evening, I like to be back at home, where I try out new recipes with my partner. As my mum is a trained chef, cooking seems to be in my blood - at least that’s what I tell myself.