The art of real estate: Meet Marnix Galle

Marnix Galle is one of Belgium’s most prominent real estate entrepreneurs. As executive chairman and majority shareholder of Immobel, Belgium’s largest listed real estate developer, he has been at the forefront of major transformations in the industry. Galle began his real estate journey in 2001, founding his own firm, Allfin, before acquiring a controlling stake in Immobel in 2014 and leading its 2016 merger with Allfin. Under his leadership, Immobel expanded rapidly across Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany, Spain, and Poland, focusing on high-quality urban development. Despite market challenges, he remains a strong advocate for long-term urban planning, sustainability, and strategic investment. A natural communicator and visionary, Galle blends sharp business acumen with an unconventional leadership style, fostering a dynamic and entrepreneurial culture within Immobel. In 2025, he transitioned from CEO to a full-time role as executive chairman, passing the operational reins to his longtime collaborator, Adel Yahia, while continuing to shape Immobel’s long-term strategy.

Serge Mampaey is a senior financial writer and market expert at De Tijd, the leading financial daily in Belgium. He won several prices for his journalism. In his webshow CEO Talks, he brings the leaders of quoted companies to the screen. Serge started his career at JP Morgan.