DLA Piper has launched a new "proptech" practice for the real estate and construction sector and new technologies. The firm's Polish proptech team is led by Poland Co-Managing Partner Jacek Gizinski, Head of Real Estate, and Ewa Kurowska-Tober, Head of Intellectual Property and New Technologies.

JLL has appointed Tomasz Trzósło as Managing Director of the CEE Markets. He will oversee the company’s operations across Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, alongside his existing responsibilities as country manager for JLL’s business in Poland.

Avison Young, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, a global commercial real estate services firm, enters the Polish market with the acquisition of UK-based GVA advisory company.

StudentMarketing, the international education and student housing research company, unveiled its rebrand as Bonard at a ceremony in the London icon, The Gherkin.

Cushman & Wakefield Echinox has strengthened its Capital Markets team by promoting Alexandru Mitrache as Head of Transactions - Land & Investment.

Mark Davis has been appointed the new EBRD Regional Director for Romania and Bulgaria and will assume his new role in Bucharest on 1 April 2019. Mr Davis follows Matteo Patrone who has become Managing Director for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

CTP enters 2019 with the announcement of Ana Dumitrache’s return to the company as Country Head of CTP Romania.

International Campus Group, a developer, investor and operator of innovative living environments for young people, has appointed Rainer Nonnengässer as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2019. The student housing and micro living expert has more than 20 years’ experience across the finance and real estate sectors. Rainer was most recently the CEO of Youniq, and previously held roles as the CEO of Micro-living at MPC Capital, which operates student apartments under the Staytoo brand, and as a Managing Director at AXA Real Estate.

Erik Drukker, who previously served as the Managing Director, Agency & Valuation, Central & Eastern Europe, has become a Member of the Board at the Polish and Czech entities of BNP Paribas Real Estate. He took his new post at the turn of November and December.

Savills has named Crosspoint Real Estate its associate in Romania as part of its continued expansion across Central and Eastern Europe. Savills and Crosspoint signed a partnership agreement in Summer 2017 with the association status taking the successful relationship to the next level. Recent instructions include advising on the sale of the Bank of Cyprus building from SIF Banat Crişana to a firm belonging to a Romanian businessman in November and securing transactions with land plots with a total value of over €60 million in 2018.