Nepi Rockcastle appoints Marius Barbu as COO

Amsterdam-headquartered real estate investment trust, Nepi Rockcastle, has announced the appointment of Marius Barbu as its new chief operating officer (COO), effective 1 April 2026. Barbu will succeed Marek Noetzel, who currently serves as COO and is the group’s CEO-designate.

Read: Nepi Rockcastle promotes COO Marek Noetzel to CEO

In addition to his executive role, Barbu has been nominated as a director and will stand for election at the company’s next annual general meeting in May 2026. The board highlighted the appointment as a clear indication of the group’s effectiveness in internal talent management and succession planning.

Extensive regional and group expertise

Marius Barbu is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience across asset management, real estate, and retail. His history with the group is extensive, having joined Nepi Rockcastle in 2012. He currently serves as the group asset management director, a position he has held since June 2022, where he leads strategic priorities, property management, and business transformation.

Marius Barbu. Image: LinkedIn

Over his 13-year tenure with the company, Barbu has expanded his oversight from country-level operations in Romania to managing portfolios across eight geographies in Central and Eastern Europe. Before joining the Group, he held various roles at international organisations, including Unilever South Central Europe, Mivan Development, and Argo Capital Management.

Read: Record results for Nepi Rockcastle

A ‘natural choice’ for continuity

George Aase, Nepi Rockcastle chair, described Barbu as the “clear and natural choice” to ensure operational continuity. Aase noted that Barbu possesses an unrivalled understanding of the portfolio’s dynamics and has already made significant contributions to the executive management team.
The board expressed full confidence that Barbu will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the group’s market-leading operations.

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