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Unibail's former boss remembered for leading firm to global prominence

Léon Bressler was deemed key to success of the French shopping center giant
Léon Bressler (DR)
Léon Bressler (DR)
Business Immo
September 5, 2024 | 1:48 AM

Léon Bressler, a leading figure in France’s real estate industry, is being remembered for his work leading Unibail to global prominence,

The former banker, who died at 77, lifted the company known today as Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and a major operator of retail centers to its status among France’s most influential real estate groups. He initially led the company as CEO from 1992 to 2006 before returning in 2020 as chairman of the supervisory board to lead a pivotal recalibration of company strategy.

"A sad month of August, in which we lose Léon Bressler, twice Unibail's saviour and reinventor. Exceptional intelligence, immense culture, constant attention to others and great modesty," said Guillaume Poitrinal, co-founder of developer WO2 and chairman of investment firm Icamap, in a post on the social media network X.

Poitrinal, who succeeded Bressler in 2006, said the real estate industry "is losing its master."

Born June 11, 1947, Bressler was a graduate of IEP Paris and held a Master's degree in law. He had previously worked for Chase Manhattan Bank, Midland Bank (1978-1989), Lanvin (1989-1991) and Worms & Cie (1991-1996), before becoming Chairman and CEO of Unibail (now URW) in 1992.

He transformed URW into a commercial real estate powerhouse, before taking on the role of managing partner of Aermont Capital (formerly Perella Weinberg Real Estate UK) in 2006, and then returning to the listed property company in 2020 after a high-profile battle.

Bressler "was a great entrepreneur, who notably founded Unibail and took it all the way to the CAC 40," said Maryse Aulagnon, president of the Fédération des sociétés immobilières et foncières, via LinkedIn, referring to an index that tracks the 40 largest French stocks.

"He loved challenges and succeeded in them, combining brilliant intelligence, attentive listening to his interlocutors and a real sense of management. His friendship was precious," Aulagnon said. "He also presided over our federation with brio, and it is on behalf of the federation that I pay tribute to him by thanking him for all he contributed to our profession."

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