Industrial real estate specialist Panattoni has hired e-commerce expert Mathieu Giguere as director for key accounts & new business development in Poland, as it seeks to expand its business in the growth area of online trade.
'More than one third of all space we deliver is in e-commerce-related projects,' said Robert Dobrzycki, CEO of Panattoni.
'According to estimates, global online trade grew by 20% in the first quarter of this year, and online stores were visited by 40% more unique users than the year before. Polish retailers, too, in their press releases have highlighted the dynamic growth in online sales, which partly compensates for the decline in turnover generated by brick-and-mortar stores,' Dobrzycki added.
Giguere's responsibilities will include key accounts and new business development in Poland and Europe, with a focus on e-commerce, new logistics concepts and formats, as well as the opportunities offered by the latest technological advancements.
A former Amazon and WeWork executive, Giguere's background spans 30 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with a focus on real estate portfolio and transaction management.
After nearly 14 years at Cushman & Wakefield, in a variety of roles, including head of capital markets for Poland, Giguere joined Amazon in 2014. As senior manager / head of real estate for the e-commerce giant, he was responsible for the expansion and management of Amazon’s real estate portfolio in three different regions - Central and Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, and Middle East / North Africa.
During his time at Amazon, Giguere executed more than 25 transactions in 10 countries and completed 11 build-to-suit projects in Continental Europe with a total value in excess of €1 bn.
Immediately prior to joining Panattoni, Giguere served as director of real estate management at WeWork, with responsibility for the company’s expansion in the Central European markets.
Dobrzycki added: 'I am convinced that we are facing further growth in e-commerce channels, which means greater demand for warehouse space, in both large and smaller urban areas. Mathieu Giguere’s qualifications and professional experience will be a definite advantage, helping us rise up to our customers’ needs arising from the rapid growth in e-commerce.'
