ING REIM reshuffles country managers

ING Real Estate Investment Management has announced the appointment of Peter Helfrich as country manager of its German business, effective on 1 August this year. Helfrich succeeds Martin Sabelko, who is returning to his original role as country manager responsible for Central & Eastern Europe to further grow the business in that region.

Helfrich is currently country manager of ING REIM Nordics and fund manager for the ING Real Estate Nordic Property Fund. He will join the existing team in Germany and will be responsible to grow the ING REIM Germany's EUR 1bn asset management business by offering investors around the world access to the largest real estate market in Europe.

Helfrich joined ING REIM in 2000 as senior asset manager for the ING Dutch Retail Fund. He moved to Stockholm, Sweden, in 2006 and established the ING REIM business and the ING Real Estate Nordic Property Fund, the current business represent EUR 1.1bn of assets under management and 15 employees. In addition he has been the chairman and vice-chairman of the ING RE European Retail Platform for the last 4 years.

In his new role Helfrich will report to Pieter Hendrikse, CEO of ING REIM Europe.

Following the appointment of Peter Helfrich, Chris Wood, currently responsible for the day-to-day business at ING REIM Germany, become director Institutional Clients for Germany, Austria and Switzerland and in addition will focus his responsibilities on the new Service-KAG initiative to contribute to the growth strategy in Germany.

ING REIM also announced a number of other appointments in the Nordics team. Martin Sersé will be appointed as country manager ING REIM Nordics and Fund Manager of ING Real Estate Nordic Property Fund on 1 August 2011. Sersé is chief financial officer of the ING Real Estate Nordic Property Fund. He will report to Pieter Hendrikse, CEO of ING REIM Europe.

Thirza Hamrin will be appointed chief operating officer ING REIM Nordics, effective 1 August 2011. In her new role she will be responsible for overseeing all financial, operational and administrative aspects of the Nordic business.

Rik Eertink will be appointed as Head of Asset Management Sweden & Denmark, effective 1 September 2011. He will be based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Hans Krig will join the ING REIM Nordic Management Team and continue his role as Head of Asset Management Finland.

Helfrich will continue his supervisory role of ING Real Estate Nordic Property Fund.