Real estate services company Apleona, headquartered near Frankfurt am Main, has been acquired by French private-equity company PAI Partners (PAI). The seller is Swedish financial investor EQT. The transaction is subject to approval from the antitrust and regulatory approval.

108 Agency is expanding into the Hungarian market. The company has now started its operations by cooperating with three local professionals István Fazekas, Marcell Szotyori-Nagy and László Kemenes who have many years of experience in commercial real estate.

Knight Frank has been present in Hungary since 2018, mostly focusing office leasing – a process that will significantly be impacted by COVID-19. Erika Lóska, Head of Office Division at Knight Frank Hungary and Colin Fitzgerald, Partner International Occupier Services at Knight Frank London talked to Property Forum about the company’s plans for Hungary and how COVID-19 could change the occupier services sector.

JLL has appointed Sabine Eckhardt as CEO Central Europe with effect from 1 May, 2020. In the newly created position, which includes full responsibility for Germany and Central Europe, based in Frankfurt, Sabine Eckhardt will help drive continued growth and digital transformation of the international real estate services group. She will also join JLL's EMEA Strategy Board.

NAI Global has opened a new office in Serbia with NAI WMG, which is led by NAI Business Director Nikola Senesi, PhD, FRICS. NAI WMG provides commercial real estate services in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania.

Colliers International Czech Republic announced the appointment of Vendula Marsova, MRICS, as its new Head of Valuation and Advisory Services. Vendula started her position in November 2019 and in her new role, she will focus on driving the continued growth and success of the firm’s valuation division; improving client experience, developing relationships and optimising the CRE valuation service delivery model.

Savills has announced a pioneering residential property service in the Czech Republic with LEXXUS, the premier residential real estate advisor in Prague.  This unique combination of international real estate advisor and leading local real estate agency will provide a full spectrum of services in this dynamic segment of the Czech market.

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.

Alicja Zajler joined Colliers International as Director in the Valuation and Advisory Department. Together with Ewa Czarnecka, Senior Partner and Director, Alicja will manage the department and set the course for its development.

Knight Frank formally opened a dedicated office in Budapest, becoming a fully branded Knight Frank business from 20 September 2018.