CBRE Investment Management Appoints Frank Aalbers as EMEA Residential Asset Operations Lead

CBRE Investment Management has appointed Frank Aalbers as EMEA Residential Asset Operations Lead, a dedicated role focused on driving operational consistency and performance across the firm's European residential platform, the company announced Sept. 22.

In the position, Aalbers will oversee operational strategy and performance across CBRE Investment Management's residential portfolios, working with asset management, investment and operating partners to enhance resident experience, optimize asset performance and support long-term value creation for investors.

Role and Responsibilities

Aalbers previously led CBRE Investment Management's residential asset management teams in the Benelux region. His new EMEA-wide remit broadens that operational scope, with responsibility for operations spanning roughly €7 billion across eight countries. In the expanded role, he will focus on strengthening operational consistency, sharing best practices across markets and supporting the firm's continued expansion in key living sectors.

Marius Schoener, Head of EMEA Residential Operator Division at CBRE Investment Management, said Aalbers has been central to building the firm's residential operating platform. "Frank has been instrumental in developing and enhancing our residential operating platform," Schoener said. "As our residential portfolio continues to grow in scale and complexity, his dedicated focus on asset operations will help us further strengthen service delivery, operational excellence and resident outcomes across our platform."

Aalbers said the sector's pace of change creates both challenges and opportunities. "The residential sector continues to evolve rapidly, creating opportunities to further improve the resident experience while enhancing operational performance," he said. "I am excited to dedicate my focus to strengthening our residential operating platform across Europe, working alongside our teams and partners to deliver high-quality homes, outstanding service and long-term value for our investors."

Platform Scale and Recent Expansion

CBRE Investment Management manages more than €11 billion of assets under management across its residential strategies in EMEA. Its direct residential platform accounts for nearly €7.5 billion of that total, spread across a diversified portfolio that includes multifamily, single-family and affordable housing, as well as student accommodation. The firm operates across eight European markets through local teams embedded in seven major EMEA markets.

The appointment follows a period of active portfolio growth. In January 2026, CBRE Investment Management acquired a €560 million German residential portfolio from Vonovia. In May, the firm launched a single-family housing strategy with Moda Living. Subsequent acquisitions included a residential asset in Greater Copenhagen in June and a build-to-rent residential asset in Valencia in July.

Market Context

The appointment reflects broader shifts in European residential investment, where operational execution has become an increasingly important driver of returns alongside capital deployment. European residential investment volume reached €43.2 billion in 2025, up 2% year over year, and residential attracted approximately €29 billion of transactions in the first half of 2026 — €9 billion more than offices over the same period.

Rental demand across the region remains structurally supported by persistent housing shortages in major European cities. CBRE's 2026 midyear outlook forecasts 2.4% multifamily rent growth across Europe and 3.9% growth in prime multifamily markets. European residential delivered a 6.7% total return in the year to March 2026.

At the same time, residential operating costs have declined from roughly 30% to 25% of gross income over the past decade, according to MSCI data, making margin management a meaningful source of value creation for large-scale operators. Build-to-rent and single-family housing strategies in particular require hands-on execution across leasing, resident retention, maintenance and ancillary income — functions that a centralized regional operations role is positioned to standardize across diverse local markets.

Regulatory risk also remains a consideration. Several European markets are debating rent caps and other forms of rental regulation, creating demand for disciplined compliance frameworks and market-specific operating strategies alongside portfolio growth.

About CBRE Investment Management

CBRE Investment Management is a global real assets investment management firm with $154.8 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2026, operating in 20 countries. It is an independently operated affiliate of CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE: CBRE).

Sources: CBRE Investment Management press release