Germany’s former Vice Chancellor Dr. Robert Habeck to become Senior Advisor at Urban Partners

• Dr. Robert Habeck joins Urban Partners as the leading European urban investor scales its 20-year track record to expand its presence in Germany
• The senior appointment adds critical expertise to Urban Partners’ knowledge-led investment approach, specifically in the areas of sustainable urban development
• Dr. Habeck joins a distinguished group of advisors with public sector and urban development experience, including the two former Lord Mayors of Copenhagen, Lars Weiss and Jens Kramer Mikkelsen

Urban Partners, the leading European urban investor, announced today that Germany’s former Vice Chancellor, Dr. Robert Habeck, will join the company on August 1st, 2026 as a Senior Advisor. In his role, Dr. Habeck will help advance the company’s research efforts, specifically in the areas of urban transformation and how private capital can support the expansion of affordable housing in rapidly growing urban environments.

“Public-private collaboration is at the core of our DNA as an investor and Dr. Habeck brings with him invaluable experience and track record of public service at the intersection of sustainability, affordability and private industry. His passion for driving change and desire to build a more resilient and independent Europe is strongly aligned with our own ethos. We are delighted to welcome him to Urban Partners as a Senior Advisor,” said Dr. Jens Stender, Co-CEO of Urban Partners.

“It is in our cities that the success of the major transformations of our time will be decided. Those who improve housing, public space and infrastructure are shaping social cohesion, sustainability and economic strength all at once. Urban Partners operates precisely according to this logic: patiently, across sectors, with a clear eye for what pays off – both economically, ecologically and socially. I look forward to playing my part in this,” said Dr. Robert Habeck.

Dr. Habeck will also contribute to Urban Partners’ future research and thought leadership, building on the firm’s recent publications such as The Copenhagen Way and Unlocking Sustainable Urban Regeneration in Europe, and continuing the work with non-profit organisations such as C40 Cities and BloxHub and ecosystem leaders such as Ramboll and Arup.

Founded in 2005 as Nrep and headquartered in Copenhagen, Urban Partners has more than €25 billion in assets under management. The company’s 20-year track record of successful investment is built on the premise that private capital can play a critical role in solving complex urban challenges. As a trusted strategic partner to municipalities across Europe, Urban Partners has long championed long-term responsibility and close public-private collaboration while deploying a holistic, hands-on approach to urban investment, creating long-term value for both local communities and global investors.

Before joining Urban Partners, Dr. Habeck served as Germany’s Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action from 2021 to 2025. Prior to that, he spent more than six years as Deputy Minister-President of the Federal State of Schleswig-Holstein and led the State ministries responsible for energy transition, agriculture, environment, nature conservation and digitalisation. Across these roles, he worked on some of Europe’s most pressing long-term challenges – including industrial competitiveness, energy security, decarbonisation, infrastructure investment and the transformation of the built environment. He played a central role in advancing the acceleration of Germany’s energy transition and his vast experience gives him a unique perspective on how public policy, private capital and long-term partnerships can help shape more resilient, sustainable and economically vibrant cities.

Dr Robert Habeck’s appointment reflects Urban Partners’ continued expansion in Europe and Germany specifically, where the company now has over 36 employees across offices in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin. Recent investments include modern logistics in metropolitan regions and urban, middle-income multifamily rental housing across Berlin, Munich and Hamburg.

Most recently, Urban Partners launched the Urban Partners Regeneration Fund (UPRF), a strategy focused on the transformation of large-scale brownfield sites and their development into vibrant urban neighbourhoods in Germany and Europe. The fund, which after first close had an initial investment capacity of €650 million combining primary equity and co-investment capital, is supported by strategic partners such as the Viessmann Generations Group and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.

Urban Partners’ Nordic track record provides the proving ground for its European ambition. Copenhagen – consistently ranked the world’s most liveable city – is home to flagship projects such as Ripple Residence in Nordhavn, an all-timber construction, and UN17 Village, the world’s first housing estate to combine all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals into a single integrated solution, demonstrating how long-term, locally embedded investment can create both economic and societal value at scale. The complexity of such projects requires a close integration of economic, regulatory and social perspectives, for which the company specifically brings in experienced individuals like the two former Lord Mayors of Copenhagen, Lars Weiss and Jens Kramer Mikkelsen.