Board of Management: Strategies for success | MÄHREN AG

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Long-term success as a company in the real estate market is based on several, very different factors. The sum of the right strategic decisions is decisive. But how do you make them, especially now in turbulent times? How do you avoid mistakes? What is the secret of a successful corporate strategy?

MÄHREN AG board members Jakob Mähren (CEO), Simon Laube (CFO) and Dennis Rekittke (COO) provide answers.

Long-term success as a company in the real estate market is based on several, very different factors. The sum of the right strategic decisions is decisive. But how do you make them, especially now in turbulent times? How do you avoid mistakes? What is the secret of a successful corporate strategy?

MÄHREN AG board members Jakob Mähren (CEO), Simon Laube (CFO) and Dennis Rekittke (COO) provide answers.

Jakob, MÄHREN AG grew out of the beginnings of your own entrepreneurship. Was there a specific reason for founding the company and taking entrepreneurial risks at exactly this point in time?

Yes, the timing of important strategic decisions is of course a key to success. It’s not about what you would like to do yourself at the moment, but about the market environment in which you find yourself and whether a planned step makes sense and is feasible.

The market conditions for real estate companies are currently changing significantly. Which strategy is promising now?

When market conditions change rapidly, as we are currently experiencing, it is fundamentally important to be structurally well prepared. You have to have created the conditions to be able to flexibly adapt the company’s strategy and not wait too long to make important decisions.

Jakob Mähren

Jakob Mähren

Jakob, MÄHREN AG grew out of the beginnings of your own entrepreneurship. Was there a specific reason for founding the company and taking entrepreneurial risks at exactly this point in time?

Yes, the timing of important strategic decisions is of course a key to success. It’s not about what you would like to do yourself at the moment, but about the market environment in which you find yourself and whether a planned step makes sense and is feasible.

The market conditions for real estate companies are currently changing significantly. Which strategy is promising now?

When market conditions change rapidly, as we are currently experiencing, it is fundamentally important to be structurally well prepared. You have to have created the conditions to be able to flexibly adapt the company’s strategy and not wait too long to make important decisions.

Flexibility and decision-making power are decisive.

Jakob Mähren (CEO)

We have to ask ourselves: Have we already set the course for rapid change? Can our business model and our way of working be changed accordingly and quickly? In this specific example, we were able to significantly increase our equity ratio in recent months, for example, in order to be able to react quickly to the changed situation in the future. At the beginning of the year, on the other hand, we had originally committed ourselves to a different strategy.

What is your personal advice as a successful CEO?

Two things: get advice and develop a feel for your business! I am firmly convinced that you have to set up all company structures in the best possible way and make decisions analytically. But I am also fundamentally open-minded, constantly question things and like to get advice, even before making important decisions. I am constantly in talks with representatives of the real estate industry and experts from completely different sectors. A good network is worth its weight in gold. Through this approach and increasing professional experience, I have learned to rely on my instincts in addition to all the analytical basics.

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▹ Websites: Business Insider, ntv and BILD.de
▹ Newsletter: Thomas Daily, IZ Newsletter, Deal-News
▹ Daily study of Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) & LinkedIn for Networking

Simon Laube

Simon, the current developments in the financial sector have historic dimensions. Rapid interest rate development, rising inflation, falling share prices. What is needed to protect companies financially from the consequences of such changes.

You now have to be much more professionally positioned and follow current developments very closely. Unexpected events such as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have made it clear that even the best strategy can suddenly become completely useless. This has once again made it clear how important it is to always keep the necessary liquidity reserves in order to be able to act flexibly even in such situations.

Simon Laube

Simon, the current developments in the financial sector have historic dimensions. Rapid interest rate development, rising inflation, falling share prices. What is needed to protect companies financially from the consequences of such changes.

You now have to be much more professionally positioned and follow current developments very closely. Unexpected events such as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have made it clear that even the best strategy can suddenly become completely useless. This has once again made it clear how important it is to always keep the necessary liquidity reserves in order to be able to act flexibly even in such situations.

Numerous real estate companies are getting into difficulties due to the current rise in interest rates. For new and existing variable financing, interest rates and thus debt service are rising significantly. This leads to lower surpluses or even negative cash flows and to lower loan-to-value ratios.

Daily study of developments in the financial sector is a prerequisite for success. You have to keep your ear to the ground, constantly build up knowledge, be able to interpret the changes in relation to your own business model and then use this to make sound decisions. The demands on corporate finance managers have risen sharply. Right now we are seeing a lot of changes, regionally and globally, so staying up to date is a complex task.

Our current strategy: stay calm, stay alert and be ready to react flexibly.

Simon Laube (CFO)

We will therefore continue to monitor the market closely and take action when interesting opportunities arise. Those who act prudently now and steer clear of the obvious risks can strengthen their own position in the long term.

Top3 Tool Recommendations

▹ Daily study of www.finanzen.net
▹ www.ntv.de for all news
▹ Newsletter: TD Morning News & Immobilienzeitung

Dennis, how do you keep an expanding company on course that has to navigate unexpectedly through heavy seas?

The basic prerequisite: You have to be prepared for the storm. We are currently seeing that market events can change very quickly, and if you can’t adapt your internal work processes in the shortest possible time, you risk a disaster. For this reason, we have been systematically digitizing our processes for years. This enables us to adapt strategies and make the right decisions.

Unexpected changes can also only be managed with a well-coordinated and committed team. You need trust and a rejection of internal silo thinking. If you don’t pull together when the sea is calm, the problems will increase when the storm hits. The executive board and teams need the same philosophy and work ethic, then upheavals can even lead to positive results. In any case, surprising challenges must be solved flexibly. I firmly believe that short decision-making paths and strong decision-makers help.

Dennis Rekittke

Dennis Rekittke

Dennis, how do you keep an expanding company on course that has to navigate unexpectedly through heavy seas?

The basic prerequisite: You have to be prepared for the storm. We are currently seeing that market events can change very quickly, and if you can’t adapt your internal work processes in the shortest possible time, you risk a disaster. For this reason, we have been systematically digitizing our processes for years. This enables us to adapt strategies and make the right decisions.

Unexpected changes can also only be managed with a well-coordinated and committed team. You need trust and a rejection of internal silo thinking. If you don’t pull together when the sea is calm, the problems will increase when the storm hits. The executive board and teams need the same philosophy and work ethic, then upheavals can even lead to positive results. In any case, surprising challenges must be solved flexibly. I firmly believe that short decision-making paths and strong decision-makers help.

If you have a dedicated team and efficient internal processes today, your track record will be impressive tomorrow.

Dennis Rekittke (COO)

Last but not least, it is absolutely essential to be prepared for all regulatory changes. Here, the requirements are constantly increasing. Only those who have a clear view of the complex regulations in times of change will weather the storm and enjoy long-term success.

Top3 Tool Recommendations

▹ Podcast: The Pioneer Briefing (Gabor Steingart)
▹ Industry Newsletter: Thomas Daily, Immobilienzeitung & Handelsblatt
▹ Daily study of Neue Zürcher Zeitung

What our business partners say

“Successful despite Corona restrictions”
Many thanks for the good cooperation on the joint residential and commercial project in Berlin. This deal was anything but easy due to the current Corona restrictions and the associated organizational difficulties. In the end, we nevertheless managed together to clear all hurdles and stumbling blocks. I am sure that more projects will follow, and I am already looking forward to continuing to work with you.
Owner from Great Britain
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After 25 years of professional experience as a realtor, I have to pay MÄHREN AG a huge compliment on an absolutely professional execution with a community of heirs as sellers. The sale was closed in only 3 months.
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My estate agent advised me to have the sale of my multi-family house in Dortmund handled by MÄHREN AG. In retrospect, I have nothing but praise. The employees were always available and together with the realtor carried out the sale at a fair price and also professionally. Many thanks!
Owner in Dortmund
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A personal contact recommended MÄHREN AG to me and I must say that the planned house sale really did go smoothly. This was such a friendly and productive cooperation. Everything was handled professionally.
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I had exact notions about the price and execution of the sale and I was not disappointed. The entire cooperation turned out pleasant and straightforward.
Home owner in Leipzig
“Unreserved recommendation”
From the initial contact through to notarized authentication, I never once regretted approaching MÄHREN AG about selling my property. Can recommend the company without reservation.
Owner in Essen
“An extremely fair execution”
We found MÄHREN AG to be a very fair business partner. Offer, acquisition price were competitive, the contract closing was on an equal footing. The employees always had an open ear for our questions.
Owners in Berlin
“We look forward to further deals”
We were very positively surprised by your fast, constructive and competent approach. That meant we were jointly in a position to implement a very comprehensive project in a short space of time to the complete satisfaction of all parties. We look forward to further deals.
Realtor in Berlin
“Second to none cooperation”
Their approach is completely different to other market players and that is why we appreciate the cooperation with Mähren AG so much. We can always rest assured that the acquisition process will be carried out expertly, objectively and purposefully.
Realtor in Berlin
“Absolutely uncomplicated business partner”
The professional and expeditious execution of the acquisition process and also the personal and uncomplicated approach were for us very impressive and pleasant. We always had the feeling the project would be executed in our mutual interests and on an equal footing.
Realtor in Dresden
“Fast and reliable”
You carried out all the obligations necessary for the acquisition on your part promptly, punctually and above all professionally. The purchase process ran smoothly and was very satisfactory.
Realtor in Magdeburg
“Recommendable business partner”
The negotiations in both the initiation phase and the purchase closing were always conducted reliably, cooperatively and in a goal oriented manner.
Realtor in Plau am See - Karow
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What particularly struck us was that small hurdles always triggered a solution to the problem rather than a rapid rejection.
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“Professional company and reliable partner”
The entire process, from the initial contact through to notarized authentication, was trouble free. We found you to be a professional company and reliable partner.
Realtor in Dresden