BNP Paribas Real Estate is strengthening its presence in Central and Eastern Europe with the appointment of Philippe Mer as director responsible for CEE and executive president of Poland, effective November 1.

Mers - who joined BNP Paribas RE in 2008 - played a major role in the integration of BNP Paribas with the PBW property management company, which was acquired in 2010.

He will oversee the development of the property management activities in the region, which currently comprise some 350,000 m2. He will be based in Warsaw, reporting to Bernard Blanco, international director of BNP Paribas Real Estate.