About
Building the urban future, together
Urban Partners is a platform of vision-aligned, differentiated, investment strategies shaped around urban problem solving. We invest to help cities to win the battles for our future. We do this by uniting insights, stakeholders and capital within the urban ecosystem. We bring capital that is not only fit for profit, but truly fit for purpose. For everyone.
With investments across 15 countries and €21bn under management, we invest in assets, companies, technologies, and solutions. We have three active strategies that work independently based on a shared set of core values, towards the same vision of a future in which the urban environment universally contributes to the wellbeing of humanity and the welfare of the planet.
We are united by our aspiration to make a positive, lasting difference, and guided by a strong set of Nordic values, centered around a caring, curious and trusting culture.
United by vision and values
Founded in 2005 to improve the built environment as Nrep, we are grounded in a solid track record of execution and trust with urban stakeholders and investors. As accelerating urbanization has put cities at the forefront of our greatest social, economic, and environmental challenges, we have extended our impact over time to tackle these issues holistically and individually through our strategies – investing in sustainable urban tech solutions through 2150, providing financing solutions to advance the green transition through Velo Capital. Nrep remains our ESG-focused real estate investor at scale, and these three strategies make up our vision-aligned investment platform with the name Urban Partners, launched 2023. Together, we bring real solutions to real urban challenges – making cities a benefit, not a burden, for people and the planet.
Meet our Co-CEOs and Chairperson
Our team is comprised of +700 experienced professionals located across eight countries, from diverse backgrounds, including real estate, public sector, technology, private equity, venture capital, architecture, finance and sustainability.
Claus Mathisen
Co-CEO
As Co-CEO, Claus co-leads Urban Partners and oversees all efforts within strategy, partnerships, capital, and business development. Claus joined the company in 2008 and became CEO in 2018, after careers at BCG and J.P. Morgan.
He is a firm believer in the constructive role private equity can play in addressing urban challenges. Claus is personally involved in The Railway District, a large-scale urban development area in Copenhagen based on the green and thriving urban thinking in the 15-minute city concept.
Jens Stender
Co-CEO
As Co-CEO, Jens co-leads Urban Partners and is responsible for the organization, leadership, governance set-up, and is overseeing our Executive Leadership Council. He joined in 2022 after 14 years at Egon Zehnder, a global leader in C-Level executive search and leadership advisory.
His focus is to help individuals, teams, and strategies to realize their full potential and he is known as a strong proponent for how leadership comes down to being purpose-led and values-driven.
Mikkel Bülow-Lehnsby
Executive Chairperson and Co-founder
As Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Mikkel supports the Urban Partners leadership on setting the strategic direction for the company. Mikkel co-founded the firm in 2005, and served as CEO until 2019.
Mikkel is devoted towards decarbonizing the built environment and a firm believer in the immense force of transition capital and partnerships to meet this goal, and is an active participant in the global discussions around these topics at COP, New York Climate Week, Davos and beyond.
Executive Leadership Council
As Chief People Officer, Amin is responsible for People & Culture and Office Services. Amin joined Urban Partners in 2023 after eight years at Apax Partners where he was Global Head of HR.
Amin’s focus is on our greatest asset, our people, by enabling our teams to perform at their best and ensure fostering an inclusive working environment where everyone brings their true selves to work every day.
As Managing Partner for 2150, Christian leads Urban Partners' technology investment strategy and co-
leads Urban Partners' brand and thought leadership efforts. Christian joined in 2020 with a career
spanning executive roles at Google, Microsoft and Facebook and founding a transatlantic VC firm.
His priority is to identify innovations across the globe that can tackle the greatest challenges of our cities
from cement and concrete to cooling to biodiversity and urban adaptation.
As Co-CEO, Claus co-leads Urban Partners and oversees all efforts within strategy, partnerships, capital, and business development. Claus joined the company in 2008 and became CEO in 2018, after careers at BCG and J.P. Morgan.
He is a firm believer in the constructive role private equity can play in addressing urban challenges. Claus is personally involved in The Railway District, a large-scale urban development area in Copenhagen based on the green and thriving urban thinking in the 15-minute city concept.
As Chief Financial Officer, Colin leads the Urban Partners finance team - encompassing Group Finance, Fund Finance, Tax and related teams. He joined in 2021, coming latest from a decade at Nuveen, where he served as both Global CFO and European CEO for the Real Estate business.
Colin’s leadership is keenly founded on Urban Partners’ values of trust and making a difference, as he together with the teams, strive to optimize near and long-term financial outcomes, serving the firm and our investors in doing so.
As Head of Investor Relations, Didde oversees all efforts within capital formation including business development, communication, client services and investor relations. Didde joined Nrep in 2015 and took responsibility of Investor Relations in 2019.
Didde is a purposeful driven professional with a background from M&A, renewables infrastructure and real estate financing. She has spent majority of her career working with the establishment of long-term partnerships with international financial and institutional investors with combined capital of more than €13bn.
As Managing Partner of Velo Capital, Emanuele is responsible for Urban Partners' alternative credit strategy. He joined in 2020 as the first London-based colleague, where he set up our office and presence. Before joining Urban Partners, he spent 17 years at JP Morgan, where he was responsible for Real Estate and Hospitaliaty Investment Banking across EMEA.
Emanuele’s focus is on ensuring Velo Capital continues developing as a cross-national team focused on cooperation and innovation, spearheading a new focus on ESG-driven debt investments.
As Chief Investment Officer for Nrep, Jani is responsible for Urban Partner’s real estate private equity investment strategies, and serving as the Chairman of the Investment Committee, fund manager of NSF I, II, and III. He has also been deeply involved in the Finnish investment business since joining in 2008 from BCG, where he gained experience in strategy, corporate finance, operations, and M&A.
Jani’s focus is to shape, execute and scale Nrep’s investment strategies in a way that benefits the planet, the building’s users and our investors.
As Co-CEO, Jens co-leads Urban Partners and is responsible for the organization, leadership, governance set-up, and is overseeing our Executive Leadership Council. He joined in 2022 after 14 years at Egon Zehnder, a global leader in C-Level executive search and leadership advisory.
His focus is to help individuals, teams, and strategies to realize their full potential and he is known as a strong proponent for how leadership comes down to being purpose-led and values-driven.
As Chief Executive Officer for Nrep, Rune leads Urban Partner’s real estate private equity investment strategy. He has been deeply involved in enabling Nrep’s development, working across its strategies, investment teams, and additionally as Fund Manager and Investor Committee member. Rune joined 2012 after holding senior real estate roles at ATP Real Estate and Catella Corporate Finance.
Rune’s passion is grounded in proving the commercial benefits of accelerating decarbonization within real estate, and strengthening Nrep’s leadership position as the local, strategic real estate investor.
As Chief Operating Officer, Xavier is overseeing all operational aspects of the firm, leading the Operational Management Team, including functions such as IT, Finance, Sustainability, Legal, Compliance & Risk Management. He joined in 2023, and brought 20 years’ leadership experience in the alternative asset management industry across equity, credit and real estate debt most recently as COO with CVC Credit Partners.
Xavier is committed to driving Urban Partners’ ambitious growth agenda while ensuring an unchanged commitment to our purpose and people through our values.
Partner Group
Alfred Eklöf
Fund Manager of NIP, Nrep
Amin Amirian
CPO
Carl-Adam von Schéele
Head of Sweden, Nrep
Christian Jølck
Partner, 2150
Christian Hernandez Gallardo
Managing Partner, 2150
Claus Mathisen
Co-CEO
Colin Paul Throssell
CFO
Didde Maria Trachsel Kristensen
Head of IR
Emanuele Bena
Managing Partner, Velo Capital
Gustaf Lilliehöök
Strategic Relationships
Jacob Bro
Partner, 2150
Jani Nokkanen
CIO, Nrep
Jens Petter Hagen
Head of Norway & Fund Manager of NSF 4&5, Nrep
Jens Stender
Co-CEO
Joonas Lemström
Head of Finland, Nrep
Klaas Reineke
Partner
Lesley Lanefelt
Head of Nordic Investments, Velo Capital
Mikkel Bülow-Lehnsby
Executive Chairperson and Co-founder
Petri Valkama
Deputy CIO, Nrep
Rahul Parekh
Partner, 2150
Rune Kock
CEO, Nrep
Sanna Gurevich-Weiß
COO and Fund Manager, Velo Capital
Thomas Riise-Jakobsen
Head of Denmark, Nrep
Timur Saadetdin
Head of New Markets, Nrep
Toke Sundenæs Clausen
Head of Commercial, Nrep
Xavier Himmer
COO