The European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA) will today announce that Méka Brunel, CEO of Gecina, is taking over the chair of the listed real estate industry trade body on the occasion of the organisation’s annual conference.
Brunel, who takes over from Vonovia’s Rolf Buch with immediate effect, has been a member of the EPRA board for the past three years. EPRA said that she would use her role to bring an increased focus on diversity and inclusion as well as environmental initiatives to the European property industry.
Said Brunel: 'It is an honour and a privilege to succeed Rolf as chair, and I thank him for his years of dedication to EPRA.
'There is no denying that EPRA, listed real estate and the wider global economy face great uncertainty in the coming months and years. But with this uncertainty comes a tremendous opportunity to create lasting change that pivots us towards a more inclusive, diverse and sustainable future.'
During Buch’s two-year tenure as chair of EPRA, the association oversaw the reappraisal of EPRA BPRs, the implementation of the net replacement value, net tangible asset and net disposal value, and gained 45 new members.
Buch said: 'It feels good to leave the position of chair knowing how much we have accomplished in the past two years.
I cannot think of a better candidate than Méka for the role and I have complete confidence that she can achieve a tremendous amount for the industry during her term.'