Germany's KanAm Grund Group has appointed Manuel Hein as associate director, head of sustainable asset strategy.
Hein was previously employed as senior technical asset manager in the company's investment and asset management Germany division since January 2021.
In the newly created position, Hein is responsible for the operational implementation of the firm's sustainability optimisation measures at property level.
Hein reports directly to Olivier Catusse, managing partner at KanAm Grund. There are also plans to expand the number of employees in the sustainability & analysis department.
Olivier Catusse, managing partner at KanAm Grund, said: ‘We are very pleased that Manuel Hein is managing and implementing the issue of sustainability, which is important to us, at property level.
'With help of the sustainability & analysis team, we have already been able to achieve a great deal in recent years with regard to the development of a suitable ESG strategy for Leading Cities Invest - particularly against the backdrop of increasing regulatory requirements and also on the part of investors and tenants.
'Based on his technical expertise and experience, Manuel Hein will now drive the implementation of the strategy at the real estate level. Specifically, the focus will be on measures to reduce CO2 emissions.’
Hein started his career eight years ago at German consultancy Drees & Sommer. There he advised clients from various sectors worldwide, in particular on efficient real estate operation, operator strategies, cost reductions and operator organisation.
He gained further experience in the field of renewable energies and the energy market as an asset manager for wind and solar parks at Green City Operations & Management.
Hein holds a bachelor of engineering in energy and environmental management and a master of science in energy and building management. He achieved further competencies through additional training as a certified DGNB consultant and DGNB ESG manager.
KanAm Grund has already demonstrated its commitment to matters of sustainability with the qualification of its open-ended, mutual real estate fund Leading Cities Invest as an Article 8 plus fund in accordance with SFDR and MiFID II as of 1 August 2022.
The main focus of the firm's sustainability & analysis division is the development of an ESG strategy in relation to KanAm Grund Group's corporate sustainability, as well as strategic advice and support for the implementation of this strategy by the individual departments.
