DEMIRE: Frank Nickel resigns with immediate effect – Dr Dirk Rüffel takes over as Chairman of the Executive Board
Langen, January 19, 2026. The Supervisory Board of DEMIRE Deutsche Mittelstand Real Estate AG (ISIN: DE000A0XFSF0) has announced a leadership change at the company. Frank Nickel has stepped down from his role as Executive Board member effective immediately to pursue other opportunities amid the current challenging market conditions.
Dr Matthias Prochaska, Chair of DEMIRE’s Supervisory Board, commends the outgoing CEO’s contributions: “Mr Nickel played a pivotal role in shaping DEMIRE during a tough period, and was especially key to the company’s successful refinancing efforts. The Supervisory Board extends its heartfelt gratitude for his service and wishes him the very best in both his professional and personal endeavors moving forward.”
Effective February 1, 2026, the Supervisory Board has named Dr Dirk Rüffel as a new member of the Management Board and, concurrently, as its Chairman.
Dr Rüffel is a German attorney with extensive domestic and international experience in real estate and asset management. Before taking on this role, he held the position of managing director at Lapithus Management GmbH in Frankfurt, served as managing director at Cerberus, and held multiple leadership roles at Argoneo Real Estate (subsequently Bilfinger Real Estate Argoneo).
Dr Rüffel stated: “I am extremely excited to take on this new challenge and appreciate the trust that has been placed in me. Despite the ongoing challenging market landscape, I am optimistic that we can unlock opportunities to drive DEMIRE’s continued growth.”
End of press release
DEMIRE Deutsche Mittelstand Real Estate AG purchases and owns commercial properties in mid-sized cities and emerging suburban areas within metropolitan regions across Germany. A key strength of the company is its ability to unlock real estate value in these locations, and it focuses on providing offerings that appeal to both international and local tenants. As of September 30, 2025, DEMIRE’s real estate portfolio consisted of 46 properties with a leasable area of approximately 573,000 square meters. Including the proportionally acquired Cielo property in Frankfurt/Main, the portfolio’s market value totals roughly EUR 0.9 billion.
The portfolio’s emphasis on office properties, complemented by retail and hotel assets, aligns well with the risk-return profile of the commercial real estate sector. The company places high priority on long-term agreements with financially stable tenants and unlocking property value, so it anticipates continued stable and sustainable rental income as well as steady value appreciation. Over the medium term, DEMIRE aims to significantly grow its portfolio. When expanding, the company will prioritize FFO-strong assets with growth potential, while strategically divesting properties that do not align with its strategy. DEMIRE will continue to enhance its operations and processes through various initiatives. Alongside cost control, operational performance is being boosted via a proactive asset and portfolio management strategy.
DEMIRE Deutsche Mittelstand Real Estate AG’s shares (ISIN: DE000A0XFSF0) are traded on the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Contact:
Julius Stinauer
Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Finance
+49 6103 372 49 44
ir@demire.ag
