“Together, we turn complex transactions into successful deals.”

Not every career move is planned well in advance – but sometimes this can be a good thing. That’s how it was for me: a perfect match that I hadn’t expected. Moving to Deka was not originally part of my career plan. After working for an auditing firm and a property investment company – first in Frankfurt, then in Hamburg – I returned to my home near Frankfurt. As luck would have it, Deka Immobilien was looking for someone in my field of experience just then. The job advert immediately appealed to me. It was exactly what I was looking for professionally, combined with a lot of creative freedom in an international environment.

Stefan Haas, Head of Transaction Structuring, joined Deka Immobilien in 2010 as a domain expert in transaction structuring and is now responsible for this task globally.

I’ve been able to learn and grow a lot during my time at Deka – through targeted training, new tasks and the confidence to take on responsibility. I started out as a domain expert. Then there was an internal reorganisation, which meant that I was able to take over as head of transaction structuring in Europe after a short time. Two years after that, I was entrusted with global responsibility for this field. Today, my team and I manage the tax, legal and financial structuring of all our property transactions, on both the purchasing and selling sides. Canada, Norway, Australia, Japan – our projects don’t stop at national borders. Over the past 15 years, my team and I have been involved in around 500 transactions with a total volume of almost EUR 50 billion. This variety is exactly what makes my work so appealing.

I’m especially motivated by the combination of strategic thinking and tricky technical issues in an international environment, which can only be solved in collaboration with experts from all over the world.

THE MOST IMPORTANT SUCCESS FACTOR:

A strong team is needed to make it all work. And that’s exactly what I have. My team of eight employees isn’t all that big, but it is highly specialised – and has grown together over the years. As group leader, I recruited many of my colleagues myself and have supported and encouraged them along the way. For me, what has always been important: strong professional skills and the sense that we get along together as people. I really believe that expertise develops best when people trust each other and enjoy working together. In our everyday lives, this is shown through mutual support. We think ahead for each other, take responsibility and watch each other’s backs. Even when things get stressful. Our attitude is: “We can do it, together.” And to me, that means more than just a good working atmosphere – it’s a solid team culture of reliability and responsibility, and one of the reasons why I still really enjoy working here even after 15 years. That’s also why I firmly believe we have a lot more great things ahead of us as a team.

MY DEKA STORY:

Deka is one of the top ten property investors in Europe. We are also known worldwide, and work together with many different companies. The transactions that I can be involved in here are impressive. For example, I recall the highly complex purchase of an office building on Clarges Street, London, where everything had to be completed in just four weeks. We were really under pressure. The deal was later even nominated for the British Property Awards. The acquisition of Tower 185 in Frankfurt with a volume of almost EUR 800 million was also exceptional and intense.

WHY DO I LIKE BEING WITH DEKA?

Because it’s a place where you can forge your own path – with creative freedom, reliability and an outstanding team. Because we work on international topics at the highest level – but with poise instead of sharp elbows and with a sensible work-life balance. It’s also a special feeling when you visit major cities around the world and keep seeing buildings that remind you: “I helped with that.”