Asset manager at HIAG
back3 questions for Dominik Hess
Published: 24. February 2023
Dominik Hess has been working at HIAG as a portfolio and asset manager for just over 3 years. However, he does not only sit at his desk in Basel, but is often on the road and directly on site at his properties.
Describe your job at HIAG: What are you responsible for?
I am mainly responsible for the active asset management of our portfolio - this applies to the entire life cycle of a property. Since HIAG has a very diversified portfolio with around 45 sites - from former and active industrial sites to power plants and new residential properties - this is an extremely exciting and varied area. My responsibilities also include active tenant management for our anchor tenants, in close cooperation with our internal HIAG departments, such as property management, site development, realisation, marketing and external service providers. This includes various activities: from negotiations with different stakeholders such as tenants, interested parties, external service providers and authorities to the conclusion of major tenancy agreements. In addition, forward-looking lease management is essential in order to avoid vacancies and to optimally exploit the potential of individual properties. My responsibilities also include the development of property strategies as well as their implementation and ongoing review. Of course, common administrative topics such as budgeting, reporting, analyses, etc. are also part of my job.
What do you particularly like about your work at HIAG?
Definitely the diversity! Almost no day is the same and there is always something going on. In general, it's a demanding and challenging environment - just the way I like it. Due to the great diversity of HIAG's portfolio, I am in charge of very different sites and properties, which I find very exciting and challenging. I also enjoy the interdisciplinary exchange with proven specialists and the close cooperation with internal departments. When things get turbulent, the team sticks together and supports each other.
What are the biggest challenges in your daily work?
This certainly includes repositioning and defining new property strategies for certain properties. As well as negotiating new contracts for large areas with high rent volumes. But that is exactly what I enjoy: Developing strategies to generate added value. In Dornach, for example, a former industrial site will be transformed into the future 'Wydeneck' district over the next 25 years. At present, the site is in the transitional use or transformation phase. This includes the activation of derelict buildings for transitional use as well as the establishment of a site management in order to be able to optimally look after the tenants and visitors as well as the site.The work on such a large-scale project is demanding, but it is very interesting to experience the transformation of the site at first hand and to be involved.