Axelor Group appoints Fraser Watson to lead Aurelia Fund expansion

The Czech investment group Axelor has appointed British manager Fraser Watson to head the expansion of its Aurelia real estate fund. Watson brings over two decades of experience in commercial real estate across European markets.

Watson began his career in the United Kingdom, where he earned his RICS professional qualification. Since 2007, he has been based in Prague, initially working in the investment department of Cushman & Wakefield. He later oversaw Central European expansion for AmRest and SportsDirect.com, managing the strategy and operations of a retail portfolio comprising 250 stores across 16 European countries. In 2018, he joined Savills’ investment team and became Head of Investment for the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 2023.

Over the course of his career, Watson has advised on transactions exceeding €3 billion and conducted asset valuations worth more than €2 billion in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria. His projects have included the sale of the Myslbek shopping centre in central Prague, the acquisition of Cromwell’s Polish retail portfolio covering over 220,000 square metres, and representing Hines in the acquisition of an industrial portfolio from CPI.

Fraser Watson said he looks forward to contributing to Axelor’s growth and supporting the development of the Aurelia fund with a focus on professional detail and long-term asset appreciation.

Pavel Svoreň, Chairman of the Board of Axelor, described Watson’s appointment as an important step in the group’s strategy to strengthen its investment and asset management capabilities in the real estate market.