The Institute for Corporate Governance in the German Property Sector (ICG) has a new Chair of the Board. At the general meeting, Burkhard Dallosch was elected to succeed Susanne Eickermann-Riepe FRICS. She is stepping down from the Board after two terms of office to focus on her growing international responsibilities, but will remain an active member of the ICG.
Eickermann-Riepe has played a key role in shaping the ICG in recent years, launching important initiatives and strengthening its position as a driving force for responsible corporate governance in the property sector. Dallosch, previously a member of the Executive Board and a founding partner of expadBridge Advisors, intends to build on this successful work whilst also setting new priorities. The focus will be on how the ICG can support companies with concrete solutions and practical offerings to help them overcome economic challenges, manage risks more effectively and position themselves for a secure long-term future.
Under Eickermann-Riepe’s leadership, the ICG has sharpened its profile and further expanded its significance within the property sector. She has put new topics on the agenda, further developed the ICG’s substantive work and, in particular, placed greater emphasis on the sector’s social responsibility. One example of this is the Social Impact Investing initiative, through which she, together with her fellow board member Werner Knips, has driven forward the discussion on the social value that property and investment can deliver, and how this can be systematically incorporated into business decisions and embedded as a business model. In doing so, Eickermann-Riepe has broadened the perspective beyond traditional governance and compliance issues. At the same time, she has significantly strengthened the ICG’s visibility and networking capabilities in Europe, particularly at EU level.
“Together,
we have achieved a great deal in recent years. It was particularly important to me to position the ICG not only as an authority on good corporate governance, but also as a driving force for the property sector,” said Eickermann-Riepe. “In view of my future international responsibilities, now is the right time to pass on the baton. I am delighted that Burkhard and the newly appointed Executive Board will continue and further develop our work.”
Dallosch: “We sense a positive spirit of optimism”
The new Chief Executive, Mr Dallosch, expressly pays tribute to the achievements of his predecessor: “Susanne has achieved extraordinary things for the ICG. With great professional expertise, strategic foresight and enormous personal commitment, she has shaped the ICG, addressed key future issues and sustainably strengthened its significance for the property sector. She leaves behind an institution that is in an excellent position. For this, she deserves our heartfelt thanks and recognition.”
Dallosch intends to build on the ICG’s successful work whilst placing even greater emphasis on the tangible benefits for companies. Particularly in light of the ongoing economic challenges facing the property sector, he regards good governance as a crucial factor for stability, resilience and future viability. The ICG is therefore to provide its members with even more targeted support through practical services, such as in the areas of risk management, compliance issues, the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI governance) and the recruitment and training of suitable young talent for executive and supervisory boards.
“We sense a positive spirit of optimism within the ICG and want to harness this to support our members even more effectively. The property sector is under considerable economic pressure. It is precisely at times like these that the importance of good corporate governance becomes apparent. It helps to identify risks at an early stage, make well-informed decisions and ensure that companies remain capable of acting even in difficult times,” said Dallosch. “Our aim is to offer companies very practical support so that they can navigate the crisis successfully whilst at the same time positioning themselves for the future. The ICG possesses a wealth of expertise, which we want to integrate even more closely into business practice.”
To this end, Dallosch intends to align the ICG’s existing expertise and services in the areas of S and G even more closely with the current needs of companies. In addition to traditional governance and compliance issues, the focus will be placed more strongly on new challenges such as AI governance, risk management and the composition of governing bodies. “Good governance is not an end in itself. It must offer companies measurable added value through better decision-making, effective risk management and structures that hold up even in times of crisis. We want to further strengthen the ICG as a ‘think-and-do’ tank that not only raises important questions but also develops answers in collaboration with its members. Through best practices, guidelines, training programmes, certifications and knowledge-sharing within our network, we can provide companies with practical support. This is precisely where I see one of our most important tasks for the coming years,” said Dallosch.
Continuity and new perspectives on the Board
Alongside Dallosch, Stefanie Frensch – previously also a member of the Executive Board and a board member of the Becker & Kries Group – was elected Deputy Chair of the Executive Board. Knips, founder of ICG and previously Deputy Chair of the Executive Board, is handing over the reins to Frensch; he will remain on the Executive Board and looks forward to developing further future initiatives together with his colleagues. With Wiebke Merbeth (partner at Deloitte Consulting) and Maya Miteva (Chair of the Board at Deutsche Real Estate AG), the board will welcome two new members in future. Isabella Chacón Troidl and Steffen Szeidl were re-elected to their positions on the Executive Board. The ICG Executive Board also comprises Dr Johannes Conradi FRICS as Deputy Chair, as well as Prof. Dr Sven Bienert MRICS and Dr Pamela Hoerr MRICS. The ICG thus combines continuity and experience with additional perspectives and expertise. During the General Meeting, Rolf Künemann (Partner at Deloitte) was also re-elected as auditor. The new Executive Board intends, in particular, to intensify cooperation within the ICG network and to utilise the expertise of its members even more effectively in developing practice-oriented solutions.
