Eurofund Group bolsters Germany team with new hires

Eurofund Group has appointed two new team members to strengthen its German team. Neven Grzeta, formerly of ECE, becomes CEO of Germany Retail, and Anna Lauro, formerly of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, becomes Asset Manager. 

These two appointments come as the company begins the transformation and repositioning of the Rhein Rhur Zentrum in Mulheim, acquired as part of a joint venture partnership with Signal Capital Partners in July 2023. Together they have announced plans to invest 180 million euros in the destination over two project phases.

With more than 15 years of experience in corporate real estate management, Neven Grzeta brings extensive expertise from his roles at ECE Projektmanagement and ECE Marketplaces. Since August 2017, he has been a key player in full-service investor relationship management, negotiating contracts, and leading multi-million Euro projects. Before that, as CEO of Aamal ECE LLC, Neven successfully managed City Center Doha. His impressive portfolio management skills and strategic vision make him a valuable addition to the Eurofund Group team.

To further strengthen the team on the ground, Anna Lauro will become Asset Manager for the center. In her previous role, she was responsible for the strategic and financial performance of Ruhr Park, Germany’s largest open-air shopping destination, and Paunsdorf Centre in Leipzig. Her experience includes planning and actively overseeing the execution of budgets, tenant negotiations, and identifying value-creation opportunities within assets.

Anna is known for her ability to thrive in fast-paced environments and has an extensive knowledge of regional German markets, which she has used to successfully transform several malls across the country into popular leisure destinations. With a proactive approach to problem-solving and a commitment to excellence, Anna brings a wealth of experience that will undoubtedly contribute to the success of Eurofund Group.

In addition to this exciting news, Sean Roberts will focus on leasing and planning for future phases of the project, ensuring the continued success and growth of Eurofund Group in Germany.

“As Eurofund Group continues to grow throughout Europe—in particular pushing ahead with plans to reinvigorate Rhein Ruhr Zentrum—it is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen our team in Germany,” comments Ian Sandford, President of Eurofund Group. “Both Neven and Anna bring valuable experience in the sector and the region and are well equipped to ensure the success of this repositioning project.”

Neven Grzeta highlighted: “Rhein Ruhr Zentrum is at the heart of both the local community and economy, and I am confident Eurofund Group is uniquely positioned to reshape this destination. I look forward to utilising my expertise to lead this exciting new project.”

“This project is a fantastic opportunity to deliver an elevated retail and leisure mix for the community, and to ensure the huge potential for value creation at Rhein Ruhr Zentrum is realised,” adds Anna Lauro.

The Rhein Ruhr Zentrum serves Germany’s largest metropolitan area, the Rhine-Ruhr region, which is home to more than ten million residents. Located close to the city of Essen, the center also draws visitors from the neighbouring cities of Oberhausen, Duisburg and Düsseldorf—with convenient transport links presenting the potential to further grow the catchment area.