FRANKFURT (2 July 2018) – Gero Bergmann, Member of the Board of Management of Berlin Hyp AG, became the new Chair of ULI Germany/Austria/Switzerland on 1 July 2018. He succeeds Juergen Fenk, Member of the Group Executive Board of SIGNA Group, who chaired ULI Germany for the last four years. Bergmann will chair the ULI Germany Executive Committee, the decision-making board of the member-run Urban Land Institute in Germany. He has been a member of ULI since 2011 and a member of the ULI Germany Executive Committee since 2012.

Bergmann plans to focus on content in a constant dialogue. “As Chairman of ULI Germany, I believe that it is important that we focus on diverse event and communication concepts in order to reach as many members and prospective members as possible. In addition, we should take into consideration the various aspects of a healthy, liveable environment, which includes homes, infrastructure, office spaces, health and logistics. I also believe that better, more consistent exchange with the public sector is important,” he said.

Bergmann sees growth of memberships as a primary focal point for action. “I believe that growing the ULI Germany community is important. Experts from across the property sector should develop new ideas jointly and inspire one another to achieve sustainable urban development. In addition, I want to initiate a better exchange between the Executive Committee, the Young Leaders network, and the NEXT network for professionals aged 35-45. Encouraging and empowering the next generation of real estate experts is essential for our industry.”

Bergmann’s own positive experiences at ULI motivated him to take on the voluntary commitment as chairman of ULI Germany. “I find every ULI event inspiring. The events provide the opportunity to pick up new ideas, expand your professional network, and create a stronger real estate sector in Germany. I’m also looking forward to making UrbanPlan, ULI’s urban development education programme for high school students, more well-known in Germany. Supporting and promoting this programme to gain new volunteers and partner schools is important to me.”

Stephanie Baden, Executive Director of ULI Germany, commented on Bergmann’s appointment: “For many years, Gero Bergmann has been an extremely dedicated and capable member who is committed to the values of ULI, and I am very much looking forward to working closely with him. With his appointment, ULI Germany has gained an experienced real estate expert. I am certain that Gero will build on the tremendous dedication that he has already shown as Local Chair for Berlin and a long-standing member of the Executive Committee and that ULI will continue to benefit from his valuable leadership and expertise.”

“Gero’s extensive experience in the German and international real estate industry, his long-standing involvement with ULI Germany, and his deep understanding of the member experience make him perfectly placed to take over as chairman,” said Lisette van Doorn, CEO of ULI Europe. “I look forward to working with him and Stephanie to further build on ULI’s strong presence in Germany.”

About the Urban Land Institute

The Urban Land Institute is a non-profit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the institute has over 40,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. ULI has almost 3,500 members in Europe across 14 National Council country networks. For more information, please visit europe.uli.org, follow us on Twitter, or follow our LinkedIn page.