Retail real estate specialist MEC is restructuring its operational setup as of 1 January 2027. With this organisational adjustment, the company is laying the groundwork for its planned growth trajectory. Going forward, centre management, technical management, location marketing, and mall commercialisation will be united under a single leadership. The aim is to deploy operational expertise across all locations more effectively, shorten decision-making paths, and deliberately expand the existing service portfolio for managed retail properties.
Core divisions consolidated under new management
Overall responsibility for the newly created structure will be assumed by Dirk Otto in the role of Head of Center Operations. Otto has previously been responsible for the East region within MEC centre management and possesses extensive experience in operational business as well as in leading centre teams. In his future role, he will guide the joint alignment of the operational segments and coordinate their collaboration with the company's other specialist departments.
Christian Schröder, Managing Director of MEC, underlines the strategic rationale behind this move. He noted that the company intends to maintain its growth course and continue developing its range of services for owners and retailers. To achieve this, an organisation is required that bundles skills and makes tried-and-tested solutions applicable across multiple sites. With Dirk Otto, the position is being filled by a manager who has known the clients, locations, and operational processes for many years.
Regional division and specialist focus areas
The future organisation combines central oversight with designated responsibilities in day-to-day operations. Leadership of centre management will be split between two regional team leads for northern and southern Germany. Technical management will also receive its own team lead to systematically develop the potential within this service segment. In addition, location marketing and mall commercialisation will report directly to the new head of operations.
- —Consolidation of centre management, technical management, location marketing, and mall commercialisation
- —Centralisation of overall responsibility under Dirk Otto as Head of Center Operations
- —Division of centre management into two regional teams for northern and southern Germany
- —Establishment of an independent team leadership for technical management
Closer coordination is intended to align technical, operational, and commercial requirements at an early stage. Dirk Otto stresses that the on-site teams have sound local market knowledge. He explained that this expertise will be brought together systematically to formulate tailored solutions for property owners and retail tenants while consistently leveraging potential across the respective locations.
