About me
Things I can advise on:
Holding Companies
Financing and Fundraising
Business Development
Corporate strategy
Early-stage investing
Christophe Reech is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor with a diversified and highly successful career spanning real estate, financial services, derivatives, and financial technology (FinTech). His journey from a young investment banker in France to the Group CEO and Chairman of Reech Corporations Group illustrates his keen business acumen, strategic foresight, and leadership abilities.
Early Career in Investment Banking:
Christophe began his professional life in investment banking, focusing on trading complex derivatives at Paribas, a French wholesale bank. This initial career move brought him to London, shifting his operational base from France to the UK. The experience he gained in derivatives and investment banking laid a solid foundation for his future ventures.
Expansion into Wholesale Financial Businesses:
Capitalising on his investment banking and derivatives background, Christophe took the initiative to set up wholesale financial businesses. First, he founded Commerz Financial Products GmbH on behalf of Commerzbank. Later, he replicated this model with Nikko Financial Products Ltd in Japan, for Nikko Securities. These strategic endeavors proved successful, and he eventually divested his interests in both entities.
Foray into Financial Technology: Reech Capital
In 1999, Christophe founded Reech Capital, a FinTech company aiming to revolutionise the derivatives market. The company specialised in offering flexible structuring, pricing, and risk management solutions to buy-side derivatives consumers. Its disruptive approach made it a market leader in Europe. Recognising its potential, Sungard acquired Reech Capital in 2005, after forming a strategic partnership in 2003.
Innovating in Hedge Funds: The Iceberg Fund
2007 marked another significant chapter in Christophe’s career. Partnering with CBRE, he established the Iceberg Fund, the first long/short hedge fund targeting real estate as an asset class. The fund exhibited outstanding performance, even navigating through the global financial crisis unscathed. Nonetheless, Christophe decided to close the fund in 2012.
Reech Corporations Group: A Conglomerate of Opportunities
In 2013, Christophe launched Reech Corporations Group and assumed the roles of Group CEO and Chairman. Under his stewardship, the Group has undergone transformative restructuring and now operates across three key development axes: Real Estate, Technology, and Financial Services. This re-organisation has not only streamlined its traditional business operations but also created a robust platform for embracing new growth opportunities and technologies.
Current Leadership and Board Positions:
Christophe has a significant influence across Reech Corporations Group’s portfolio companies. He is the Chairman of Stone Estate Swiss AG, which specialises in value-add opportunities in commercial real estate in Switzerland. Moreover, he chairs Peninsula Real Estate Holding in Abu Dhabi Global Markets, focusing on core real estate assets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. His reach equally extends into the realms of PropTech and FinTech. He is the founder, main shareholder, and Chairman of RC2I, a company exploring the applications of Big Data, AI, and Machine Learning in real estate. He is also an advisor to H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and UAE Prime Minister, as part of the Dubai Chambers Advisory Council for Digital Economy. He is an active member of the World Economic Forum (Davos) as well as the World Government Summit (UAE). Finally, since 2019 he has been recognised by Immobilien Business Magazine as one of the 100 most influential executives in the Swiss real estate industry.
Conclusion:
Christophe Reech's career trajectory encapsulates his entrepreneurial spirit, mastery of risk management, and ability to identify and capitalise on emerging market trends. His multifaceted involvement across multiple sectors and his current leadership at Reech Corporations Group validate his ability in creating value, not just in traditional fields but also in embracing new technologies and market opportunities. Through his ventures, Christophe continues to redefine the landscape of real estate, technology, and financial services.