The Swede who stayed and changed the game

Nathan North: You set up the company that became Vastint Poland more than 30 years ago, building it almost from scratch and making a major impact on the style of real estate development across the region. And this is why you fully deserve this award! What was the market like in Poland when you arrived, and what did you think needed doing? Roger Andersson, managing director, Vastint Poland: The market in Poland was still in its infancy and only began to see substantial growth in the late 1990s. I recognised the need to introduce Western and Nordic expertise to develop and design real estate that met modern standards in every aspect. Our goal was to create properties that would match the expectations of international companies entering the Polish market. The demand from global firms – such as Fiat, Nestlé, HP, Coca-Cola and numerous banks – was high, as they sought to establish a strong presence in Poland. This momentum provided the perfect opportunity to make our mar