DWS Promotes Matthias Naumann to Head of Asia Pacific Real Estate 

Just over one year after relocating from Germany to lead real estate investment for DWS in Asia Pacific, Matthias Naumann has taken over responsibility for the German investment manager’s property business in the region, according to an announcement on Tuesday.

Now based in Sydney, Naumann has been promoted to head of real estate for Asia Pacific in addition to retaining his role as chief investment officer for the property business, DWS said in the statement, which tied the upgrade both to the executive’s skills and to the benefits of aligning the regional business with DWS’ worldwide trajectory.

“Matthias’ strong strategic credentials and CIO background, along with his APAC and international experience, will ensure greater alignment of our regional and global objectives and connectivity with clients,” Clemens Schäfer, head of real estate for APAC and Europe at DWS said. “Unlocking sustainable AUM growth through more investment, deployment of capital, and managing assets through the investment cycle will remain critical to his leadership, backed by our firm commitment to the region.”

A 12-year DWS veteran, Naumann will be reporting directly to Schäfer in Frankfurt, while continuing to hold his current role as chief investment officer for Asia Pacific real estate. Christopher Kimm had served as head of APAC real estate for DWS from the company’s Singapore office since 2016. The company did not specify Kimm’s current status at DWS.

Growth Responsibilities

Taking on the top leadership role for DWS in the region, Naumann will oversee the company’s day-to-day operations and direction, in addition to directing its investments. Beyond expanding DWS’s presence in its existing real estate markets, Naumann is expected to lead growth in new markets and sectors, the company said.

“I am excited to lead DWS’s APAC direct real estate business and furthering our strategic growth ambitions in the region’s dynamic real estate markets,” Naumann commented. “Building upon our historically strong foundation in Japan and Korea is central to our media information strategy, with a particular focus on the living sector, especially in Australia.”

In July DWS expanded its South Korea logistics portfolio with the KRW 118.4 billion (then $87 million) purchase of the Gonjiam Logistics Center southwest of Seoul from GIC and Mirae Asset.

The unit of Deutsche Bank also scored a successful exit from an Korean venture just under one year ago when it sold a Greater Seoul warehouse to Blackstone and local player Pebblestone Asset Management for KRW 83.5 billion (then $60.4 million).

Company Veteran

With DWS’ global direct real estate equity platform managing almost EUR 55 billion ($65 billion) in AUM as of 30 June, Naumann chairs the firm’s APAC real estate investment committee, co-chairs the global real estate investment committee and is a member of Schäfer’s real estate leadership team, the company said. 

Having first joined DWS in 2013, Naumann has covered Asia Pacific as real estate CIO for the region since 2021, before moving to Sydney last year. 

Having initially joined the firm’s real estate research and strategy team, Naumann moved up to head of strategy in 2015 before being named CIO for the company European real estate business in 2019.

Earlier, Naumann was an analyst at Invesco Real Estate in Munich after commencing his career as a portfolio analyst at Investment Property Databank in London.