R
emon Vos, a Dutch billionaire, has built an industrial real estate empire in central and eastern Europe. His company, CTP, is the largest player in the region, with over 143 million square feet of industrial parks and warehouses leased to blue-chip tenants. Vos' success can be attributed to his relentless focus on expansion, taking advantage of cheaper labor and land costs in countries like the Czech Republic and Romania.

    As a high school graduate who left the Netherlands to sell dairy products in the Czech Republic in his early 20s, Vos has come a long way. He cofounded CTP with Johan Brakema and Eddy Maas in 1998, and since then, he has grown it into a giant through strategic acquisitions and partnerships. The company's dominant position across 10 countries in central and eastern Europe makes it well-positioned to benefit from tariffs imposed by the US.

    Vos is known for his deal-making skills and ability to turn crises into opportunities. He has navigated CTP through various challenges, including the 2008 financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. His strategy of developing new projects quickly and leasing them out before construction is complete has paid off, with CTP planning to build 14 million square feet of new developments in 2024.

    CTP's customer base is diversified, with logistics and manufacturing companies accounting for 28% and 26%, respectively, of its total space. However, the company could be vulnerable if one of its most important industries is hard-hit, such as automakers, which make up 21% of CTP's total leases.

    Vos has a solution to this challenge: landing more clients in Asia and taking advantage of the boom in defense spending in Europe. He believes that Asian companies will set up shop in central and eastern Europe to avoid tariffs and be closer to their customers. With his ability to adapt to changing circumstances, Vos is confident that CTP will continue to thrive.

    As a micro-manager, Vos oversees hiring decisions and personally checks out new markets. His hands-on approach has contributed to CTP's success, with 87% of its customers re-signing after the end of their leases. With his sights set on expanding into new markets and taking advantage of emerging trends, Remon Vos is poised to continue his remarkable journey as a billionaire entrepreneur.