New Head of brokerage Horgen

Flexible, open to change and always ready for new challenges - that is what characterizes Alex Niedermann. After around one and a half years as Head of the New Construction Marketing Competence Center at Ginesta Immobilien, the 55-year-old seized a new opportunity: on 1 January 2025, he took over as Head of Real Estate Brokerage at the Horgen . He is also still responsible for the initial letting and re-letting division. For Alex, the move to Horgen is a return to his roots.

“I live in the region and already have experience in setting up a new branch on the left bank of Lake Zurich,” he says. Back in 2002, he was involved in setting up a location in Wollerau and Pfäffikon SZ for a previous employer and built up a solid network there. "I marketed real estate in this region for 14 years. I am very motivated to take on the role of market area manager in my home region and to further expand the Horgen team." For him personally, the new role will also simplify things: immediate proximity to customers and the network, shorter commutes and therefore more time for family and leisure. “I'm looking forward to releasing new energy in both my professional and private life,” says Alex.

GROWING TOGETHER

First-time lettings and re-lettings will remain a focus in his new role. "This area is becoming increasingly important. We have an excellent basic team that we are continuing to expand," explains Alex. Cooperation with the New Construction Competence Center is important to him here, as many initial lettings result from large-scale developments. Re-letting is and remains one of Ginesta's hobbyhorses and is of central importance for the existing clientele.

«I'm always looking for a challenge»

With the move to the Horgen location, Alex is facing new challenges: “Our aim is to strengthen and update Ginesta's profile in the region, both with our target groups and with external influencers,” explains the real estate expert. The collaboration with the Pfäffikon SZ location is helping here: “We serve the left side of Lake Zurich together and are there for our customers with twice the strength.”

AN ALL-ROUNDER WITH VISION

Alex's career is characterized by constant development. “I'm not someone who gets comfortable and I'm always looking for a challenge,” he says. As a result, he has a full backpack of experience and a broad horizon. He has a federal certificate in real estate management from SVIT and a great deal of practical experience from his work at a former real estate leader on Lake Zurich. As the owner of an agency specializing in real estate marketing, which Alex passed on to his managing director after eight years, and thanks to various activities in Europe and the USA, it is in his blood to think and act big. Teamwork, openness and respectful interaction are particularly important to Alex: “Teamwork makes the dream work, as they say.”

KEY FACTOR DIGITALIZATION

A particular focus of Alex's work is digitalization. "My work in the competence center for new builds has also resulted in collaboration in the digitalization process for the marketing of existing properties at Ginesta is becoming more digital in all areas: this applies to the digitalization of offers, marketing tools and marketing processes," explains the technology enthusiast.

«In the job as in the dojo , patience is key.»

FROM THE OFFICE TO THE MAT

Away from his day-to-day work, Alex finds balance in karate. He discovered the sport 15 years ago. "Then as now, I like to exercise and have many interests. But when I was 40, I wanted to do something for my physical fitness," he remembers his introduction to martial arts. "An acquaintance once took me to karate training. I was skeptical at first - karate sounded like a tough martial art. But I quickly realized that it's the perfect full-body workout that you can do at any age." Today, Alex is not only an active karateka and trains two to three times a week, but has also been a certified children's trainer for four years. He affectionately calls his five to nine-year-old karate students the Bonsais. “I enjoy teaching the children not only sporting techniques, but also values such as discipline, politeness and perseverance,” he says. "Shotokan karate is not just a sport - it promotes children's development on various levels. They also get to know themselves and others better," says the father of three adult children.

At the same time, he himself learns a lot from the young athletes. "Children just do it. They look at a movement and copy it. We adults, on the other hand, always have to have everything explained to us first and understand it. Sometimes you have to be more like children - just do it and try something new."

UTILIZING SYNERGIES

Alex's commitment as a karate trainer has many parallels with his professional work. “Patience is crucial in both the job and the dojo,” he says. This calmness and a clear focus on a common goal run through both worlds. At work, he leads his team with respect and openness; in karate, he teaches the children long-term values that go beyond the sport.

The focus on cooperation and mutual support combines his professional and personal passion. “In karate, I'm proud when the children pass their belt exams - these are small but significant success stories - for them and for me,” he says with a smile. "Professionally, I'm looking forward to handing over a strong new-build team to my successor and leading an equally strong team in Horgen into a successful future. Thanks to the synergies with the Pfäffikon SZ site, we can make targeted use of our strengths and be successful on the market in the long term."

When he leaves his office in the evening, Alex Niedermann swaps his suit for a karate gi and becomes a patient teacher for his karate kids.