Matthias Thomas to expand the GIG group of companies’ one-stop platform for integrated facility management services
The GIG group of companies, based in Berlin, has appointed Prof. Dr. Matthias Thomas as new member of its management team. From 1st of October 2017 Matthias Thomas will be joining the company which is fast becoming a leading innovator of integrated and digital property management services.
According to Torsten Hannusch, chartered engineer and managing partner of the GIG group of companies: “The strategic development of our company will benefit hugely from the appointment of Matthias Thomas, who brings three crucial competencies with him. As former president of property research society gif he possesses comprehensive experience in the development of industry standards. He has also been vital in the development of INREV as the leading platform for non-listed real estate investments. Additionally, he has an extensive network of contacts in the German and international real estate investment and asset management market. These are our potential clients as they would prefer a one-stop platform for operative solutions over having several individual service providers.”
His close working relationships with asset managers during his time at INREV have equipped Matthias Thomas with a deep understanding of the needs of institutional investors in the development of solutions aimed at structuring and optimising real estate portfolios. His wide-ranging experience with institutional investors will be vital in the future development of the GIG group of companies.
The GIG group of companies provides technical, infrastructural and commercial facility management services, with assets under management currently totalling more than € 25 billion. Assets include approximately 130,000 residential assets, around 480 commercial assets including office and logistics buildings, hotels, hospitals as well as large-scale industrial and business parks. Services provided also include the development of modernisation and energy concepts and the acquisition and operation of local electricity grids for large-scale sites.
“The number and type of assets under management, the Germany-wide representation as well as the breadth and depth of property management services provided are ideal conditions for the development of an integrated and digital platform and were also the reason why I was keen to join the company”, says Matthias Thomas.
Torsten Hannusch adds, “Our innovations team is always on the look-out for the next development in the facility and property management business and I am convinced that within 5 years the entire contracting process will be performed digitally. Our aim is to be the forerunner in this development and to this end we also plan further strategic investments in suitable PropTech companies.” GIG already employs a fully digitalised minor repairs management process for more than 70,000 residential units.
He concludes: “Further important steps towards becoming an integrated service provider for all asset types were the strategic investments in the industrial park management company GIS Infrasite as well as in the property management company DIM Deutsche Immobilien Management. These partnerships enable us to provide our clients with a unique and integrated service platform.”