Recently, Altus Swanepoel marked one year as Head of Asset Management at Atterbury Europe – a milestone that coincided with a year of meaningful change, both professionally and personally. From stepping into a senior leadership role across a diverse European portfolio to welcoming his first child, it has been a year shaped by growth, perspective and momentum.
Atterbury Europe’s portfolio spans Cyprus, Romania and Serbia, each market with its own dynamics, rhythms and challenges. For Altus, the past year has reinforced not only the strength of the assets themselves, but the people and partnerships behind them. “What has impressed me most is the pride and ownership our local teams bring to their assets. They know their cities, their tenants and their customers better than anyone and that shows in performance.”
Learning the portfolio and the people behind it
Stepping into the role gave Altus a front-row seat to the resilience of Atterbury Europe’s assets. Despite operating in varied political and economic environments, the portfolio continues to demonstrate strong tenant demand, loyal customers and consistent performance.
Yet, it is the human capital behind the numbers that stands out. Across all three regions, local teams operate with deep market knowledge and a long-term mindset, qualities that have made Altus’s transition into the role both seamless and inspiring.
A consistent philosophy, tailored locally
Atterbury Europe’s asset management approach is defined by hands-on involvement, long-term ownership and strong local partnerships. While the strategy remains consistent across markets, execution is always tailored to local realities.
The focus is not on short-term wins, but on sustainable income growth, resilience and relevance. By actively engaging in day-to-day management, optimising tenant mix and leveraging data – from footfall and dwell time to sales and customer behaviour – the team ensures assets remain competitive well into the future. “Holding assets for the long term allows us to invest properly, in refurbishments, ESG upgrades and repositioning that protect value over decades, not quarters.”
“Our strategy isn’t about quick wins, it’s about resilience and relevance over the long term.”
From data to decision-making
With a decade at Deloitte and senior reporting roles in Europe behind him, Altus brings a strong analytical lens to asset management. Understanding why assets perform as they do is just as important as understanding how they perform.
Equally critical is communication. Sitting at the intersection of finance, operations and strategy requires the ability to translate complex insights into clear, actionable decisions, a balance that now defines his leadership style.
Highlights across the portfolio
When asked which projects have been most rewarding, Altus says it’s near impossible to choose just one! “What has been particularly rewarding this past year is seeing our assets attract first-to-market concepts in their cities, regions, and countries. For example, Miniso opened their first store in Nicosia at Mall of Cyprus, Lefties opened their first store in North Eastern Romania at Iulius Mall Suceava and Victoria’s Secret opened their first store in Serbia at USCE Shopping Center.”
These launches reflect the portfolio’s strength and continued appeal to international brands seeking the right platform for expansion.
The power of partnership
Atterbury Europe’s success is rooted in collaboration. Strong relationships with local partners – from Iulius in Romania to MPC in Serbia and on-the-ground teams in Cyprus – ensure decisions are informed, responsive and deeply connected to local markets. “A centralised approach alone would never work. Our partners give us real-time insight and cultural understanding – they keep us grounded and agile.”
ESG as an operational driver
Sustainability has moved firmly from ambition to execution. The LEED v4.1 O+M certifications in Cyprus illustrate how ESG is reshaping asset management, not as a tick-box exercise, but as a driver of operational discipline, energy efficiency and long-term cost reduction.
“Strong local teams ensure we’re never disconnected from what’s happening on the ground.”
A personal milestone
2025 marked a defining personal chapter. Becoming a father on Father’s Day brought a new perspective and a few unexpected bedtime rituals. “Humming Vangelis’ Conquest of Paradise has become our nightly tradition. Parenthood has a way of reframing everything; it’s humbling, exhausting and incredibly grounding.”
That sense of perspective now carries into Altus’s professional life: a focus on what matters most, appreciation for progress over perfection, and gratitude for the team around him.
Looking ahead
As Altus enters his second year in the role, priorities are clear:
- Refining tenant mix to drive footfall, dwell time and sales
- Reconfiguring space to strengthen asset relevance
- Improving operational efficiency without compromising quality
Each initiative is guided by the same objective: future-proofing assets and creating long-term value.
One year in, the picture is clear – strong assets, strong partnerships and a leadership approach grounded in people, data and purpose.
