
Early Career in Investment Banking
Christophe commenced 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. The experience he gained in derivatives and investment banking laid a solid foundation for his future ventures.
Expansion into Wholesale Financial Businesses
Capitalizing 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 revolutionize the derivatives market. The company specializes in offering flexible structuring, pricing, and risk management solutions to buy-side derivatives consumers. Its disruptive approach made it a market leader in Europe. Recognizing 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 a transformative restructuring and now operates across three key development axes: Real Estate, Technology, and Financial Services. This reorganization has not only streamlined its traditional business operations but also laid 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 specializes 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 extends into the realms of PropTech and FinTech as well. 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 Digital Economy Council. He is an active member of the World Economic Forum (Davos) as well as the World Government Summit (Dubai). Finally, he has been recognised, since 2019 by Immobilien Business Magasine as one of the 100 most influential executive in the Switzerland real estate industry.
Conclusion
Christophe Reech%27s career trajectory encapsulates his entrepreneurial spirit, mastery of risk management, and ability to identify and capitalize on emerging market trends. His multifaceted involvement across various sectors and his current leadership at Reech Corporations Group validate his skill 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.
Advisory experience
- United Arab Emirates
- Venture Capital and Private Equity
- English, French