Search Results for: NEPI Rockcastle

In a world where billions of dollars are being invested in AI capacity to increasingly digitally track and capture consumer trends, shopping centres remind consumers about the basic human need for social interaction and emotional experience that really drives a successful bricks and mortar retail business. Present COO – taking the role of CEO in April 2026 – of NEPI Rockcastle, Marek Noetzel discusses his perspective on placemaking 2026.

NEPI Rockcastle NV, Europe’s third largest listed retail real estate company by portfolio value, has appointed Marius Barbu as Chief Operating Officer (COO) with effect from 1st April 2026, to succeed Marek Noetzel, current COO and CEO-designate.

NEPI Rockcastle has decided to appoint Marek Noetzel as its designated CEO, effective 1 April 2026. Mr. Noetzel was confirmed as the company’s permanent COO in June 2022 and is responsible for its operations across 60 properties in eight countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

NEPI Rockcastle is on the path to growth: Its portfolio value is over €8 billion, net operating income has risen by 12%, and occupancy rates are close to 100%. In this interview, Marek Noetzel explains how the company has achieved such results despite geopolitical uncertainties, why retail parks are thriving while mega deals are stalling, and how photovoltaic and mixed-use projects are shaping the future of retail in CEE.

The major development by NEPI Rockcastle, one of Europe’s industry leaders, is currently the CEE region’s largest retail project. The extension is underway and on schedule with an investmnet budget of approximately €300M and a grand opening planned for the first quarter of 2027.

NEPI Rockcastle N.V., Europe’s third largest listed retail real estate company by portfolio value, achieved a 12.1% growth in NOI (net operating income) year-on-year in the first half (H1) of 2025 to €307 million as a result of the large acquisitions completed in 2024 and a continued improvement in the existing portfolio through active asset management, despite a challenging macroeconomic background.

NEPI Rockcastle’s renewable energy output is expected to expand to cover 48% of the electricity demand of its shopping centres and tenants in Romania, the company’s largest market, by the end of 2026 – up from 6% at the end of 2024. CEE’s largest retail real estate company is deploying a new 54.1 MW greenfield solar power park in western Romania under a €110 million programme – the biggest green energy investment for a non-energy sector corporate across the region’s markets.

Bulgaria’s high-performing retail market was highlighted at NEPI Rockcastle’s third Retailers Day held recently in Sofia. More than 150 representatives from leading international retailers and industry partners gathered for a full day of insightful presentations on the Group’s new greenfield shopping centre project to be developed in the city of Plovdiv, international retail trends and global macroeconomic perspectives.

Rüdiger Dany, CEO of NEPI Rockcastle, the leading owner, operator and developer of shopping centers across Central and Eastern European markets and the third largest listed retail real estate company in Europe by value of assets, is leaving his position in March 2026.

The disposable income gap between Central and Eastern Europe’s (CEE) economies, which are enjoying solid economic expansion, and stagnating Western European countries is narrowing fast. This is buoying consumer spending in markets like Poland and Romania and attracting international and regional retailers to large modern shopping centers that dominate the CEE’s shopping and experience landscapes, while also offering higher margins and lower costs, NEPI Rockcastle’s latest ‘White Paper for Growth’ research concludes.

NEPI Rockcastle has delivered a robust performance in Q3 2024, achieving a 12.3% growth in net operating income (“NOI”) to €411 million in the first nine months (“9M”) of 2024 versus the same period of 2023. On a like-for-like (“LFL”) basis, NOI increased by 8.4%. The continuing momentum in the Company’s growth was driven by higher rents and short-term income as well as the disciplined management of operating costs.

NEPI Rockcastle achieved a 13.5% increase in net operating income (‘NOI’) in the first half of 2024 compared to 274 million Euro compared to 241 million Euro in H1 2023. On a like-for-like basis, NOI was 10% higher in H1 2024 compared to H1 2023, excluding the impact of developments completed after 30 June 2023 and industrial property sold in January 2024.