DWS Appoints New Lead for Real Estate in APAC

DWS Appoints New Lead for Real Estate in APAC

DWS’s latest appointment underscores the asset manager’s commitment to growth in the APAC region’s dynamic property markets.

Matthias Naumann, who will be based in Sydney, takes on day-to-day leadership of DWS’s APAC direct real estate platform while retaining his role as Chief Investment Officer for the region.

He will report directly to Clemens Schäfer, Head of Real Estate APAC & Europe. His expanded mandate includes strengthening DWS’s foothold in existing markets and pushing into new ones, according to a DWS media release sent on Tuesday.

Building on a Strong Foundation

With two decades of experience, Naumann joined DWS in 2013 and has steadily risen through the ranks.

After leading European real estate strategy, he became CIO for the APAC platform in 2021, relocating to Sydney from Frankfurt in early 2024. He now chairs the APAC Real Estate Investment Committee and co-chairs its global counterpart.

Focus on Growth Sectors

Naumann emphasized that the group’s historically strong positions in Japan and South Korea remain central, with a particular focus on the Living sector in Australia. «Our skilled regional team and global real estate expertise are key to our continued success,» he said.

DWS Real Estate manages nearly 65 billion euros in assets globally, including 55 billion euros in direct real estate equity as of June 2025. With a footprint spanning more than 20 cities worldwide, the firm sees the Asia-Pacific region as a critical pillar of its global strategy.