An interview with Reto Felder, COO Investment Management at Swiss Prime Site Solutions
Swiss Prime Site Solutions (SPSS) has enjoyed remarkable growth in recent years. The number of employees has risen from 13 to 140, while assets under management have increased from 2 billion to 13 billion. In this interview, Reto Felder, COO Investment Management, talks about his career journey and his leadership principles.
Discover how he progressed from a carpentry apprenticeship to a senior role at Switzerland’s leading independent real estate asset manager. Reto and his team provide exclusive insights into the company, the leadership philosophy and the team spirit that drives them.
Reto, you have had an impressive career so far. How did it all start for you?
When I look back, I feel quite proud of how far I’ve come. I started out doing an apprenticeship in carpentry. I then went to business school and also had a spell as a professional athlete alongside working in the property management industry. I moved up a level every couple of years: Team Leader, Asset Manager, Chief Investment Officer and now Chief Operating Officer Investment Management (COO) at SPSS. At each stage, I enhanced and refined my knowledge and skills before moving on to the next step. And I’m still as motivated as ever to keep growing and developing.
Your career started with something hands-on and practical. How did that experience shape you?
That experience had a huge influence on me. I learned to internalise things and keep pushing myself to grow. I know what it feels like to start from the very bottom. That helps me when working with teams today, because I understand the challenges that people face in different roles. My time as an athlete also taught me many valuable lessons. Persistence, endurance, dealing with setbacks – these are all things I learned from sports. I also experienced what can be achieved by a group of people with a great team spirit and sense of togetherness.
You mentioned setbacks. What role do they play in your leadership philosophy?
Setbacks are part of the journey. In sports, you learn that you might sometimes be on the subs bench or receive some harsh criticism. But it’s about getting back up again and carrying on with a positive attitude. That’s something I try to pass on to my teams as well. Complaining doesn’t achieve anything. You have to keep going and take the next step. That’s an important part of my leadership philosophy.
SPSS has grown exponentially in recent years, even through challenging times like the pandemic. What was that period like for you?
My first day at SPSS coincided with the announcement of the first lockdown in spring 2020. I suddenly found myself managing a team of people who I’d never met in person. It was a challenge, of course. But instead of seeing it as an obstacle, I saw it as an opportunity. It gave us the chance to prove what we were capable of as a team in times of crisis. That early phase and the team spirit we showed had a profound impact on me. During that period, we gained the trust of our investors, established ourselves as a strong player in the market and, in doing so, paved the way for our future success.
What was the key to this success in the midst of a crisis?
It was a combination of teamwork, trust and a willingness to take on challenges. We worked closely with our stakeholders during this time, building the trust that has been so important to us in the long term. We also took the opportunity to analyse and optimise the managed property portfolios. Even now, it is important to us that we don’t just grow but also keep on improving the performance of our investment vehicles. To achieve this, it is essential that we continue evolving and improving as an organisation as well.
«Trust is created when employees feel they are needed and valued. We give them the opportunity to put forward their ideas. Only in this way can we all grow together. At SPSS, trust in our employees is one of the cornerstones of our success. »
Team development seems to be a key focus for you. How do you approach it?
For me, it’s important to strike the right balance between supporting our employees and challenging them. We give them the opportunity to step out of their comfort zone, but we’re also there for them if they need our help. We encourage our colleagues to think entrepreneurially and take on responsibility. I believe it is crucial to foster a trusting environment in which mistakes aren’t punished but seen as opportunities to learn. This is the only way for teams and individuals to grow.
Do you have any examples of people who have progressed particularly well in their careers?
Yes, there are many impressive success stories that we’re very proud of. Three individuals in particular spring to mind. Andrea Schaller joined us in 2020 as Head of Marketing & Communications for an investment product. Today, she is responsible for all communication activities for seven investment vehicles. Her ability to manage a constantly growing set of tasks and keep everything running smoothly is impressive. Ramona Casanova joined us in 2022 as an assistant and has made tremendous progress in a short space of time. She now manages over 320 investors for the Swiss Prime Investment Foundation. And Rubina Insam was promoted to Head of Acquisition & Sales for our Akara Diversity PK fund after only being with us a short time. Thanks to her hard work and dedication, she has already completed numerous successful transactions.
At SPSS, you embody the principle and motto «next level». What does that mean?
«Next level» means that we always aim to keep reaching new heights, consolidate our position there and then move on to the next challenge. It’s about continuously improving and never staying at the same level. We want to create an environment in which our employees are constantly striving to improve and take on new challenges. It’s an ongoing process.
You talk a lot about trust and teamwork. How do you cultivate such an environment in a company?
Trust is created when employees feel they are needed and valued. We give them the opportunity to put forward their ideas. Only in this way can we all grow together. At SPSS, trust in our employees is one of the cornerstones of our success.
What values are most important to you in the company?
At SPSS, individuality, ambition and trust are our main values, alongside the Swiss Prime Site Group’s values of respect, integrity, innovation and responsibility. To me personally, teamwork, dedication and humility are also incredibly important. These values help us stay focused on what matters most: long-term partnerships, sustainable solutions and satisfied clients. Trust plays a crucial role, because we manage the money of our investors – particularly pension funds. We have to remain humble and accountable in everything we do.
What is your vision for the future of SPSS?
Our goal is to reach 16 billion in assets under management by 2027. But it’s not just about scale – it’s also about continuously improving the quality of our products. At the same time, we will continue to cultivate an environment in which our talented employees are supported and challenged so they can keep on growing and developing.
Finally, do you have any personal advice you would like to share with future leaders?
Yes, leadership requires persistence and resilience, but it also calls for a certain amount of composure and confidence at the right moments. There is no magic formula. But if you work hard and keep developing, I’m convinced you’ll eventually be rewarded. I firmly believe that with the right attitude, you’ll be successful in the long run.
About Reto Felder
Reto Felder began his career with a carpentry apprenticeship, before attending business school. He has a Swiss federal diploma and master’s degree in real estate management and has also completed numerous leadership courses. His first job was in property management. After gaining initial experience as a junior property manager, he quickly worked his way up into leadership positions, first as an account manager and team leader and then as an asset manager at Swiss Prime Site Immobilien. Alongside his career in the business world, Reto also played football at professional level, which taught him the importance of teamwork and perseverance.
His commitment to personal growth and improvement then saw him promoted to the role of Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at Swiss Prime Site Solutions (SPSS), in which he was responsible for product strategies and the performance of managed assets. Since July 2024, he has served as Chief Operating Officer Investment Management (COO), overseeing the strategic direction of several business areas.
