GERMANY - Christian Bomhard, former head of real estate at Feri Family Trust, left the company to found an independent real estate consultancy.

After three and a half years as head of real estate at Feri Family Trust, formerly Feri Wealth Management, he has now gone back to his hometown of Nürnberg to set up a real estate consultancy for institutional and private investors.

Bomhard confirmed to IPE that his departure from Feri at the end of June was based on "an amicable agreement" and "solely at his own request".

He added that he would be running the new consultancy under his name because that is how he has "been known in the market, as a competent contact, for many years".

His focus will be on advising a "manageable number" of private (families and family offices), as well as institutional investors (mainly foundations and Pensionskassen), in German-speaking countries over the long term on real estate investment issues.

Bomhard said: "Triggered by the financial crisis and also to a greater degree by the currency crisis, as well as the real asset debate, I see enormous need for advice among large direct real estate investors."

He added there was "an urgent need for realignment and reorientation".

Bomhard noted he would "stay in contact" with all companies of the Feri group.

His position at Feri was taken on - on an interim basis - by Marcel Renné, chief executive at Feri Family Trust.