Rolf Eberhard Buch (born 2 April 1965) is a German business executive. He was chief executive officer of the real estate company Vonovia from 2013 to 2025. Appointed in 2013 to lead Deutsche Annington, he oversaw the company's renaming to Vonovia following the takeover of GAGFAH in the year 2015. Previously, Buch held an executive position at Arvato.
Early life and education Buch was born in Weidenau near Siegen. At age three, his family moved to the Kettwig district in the city of Essen. After completing his secondary education ("Abitur"), Buch studied mechanical engineering and business administration at the RWTH Aachen University and received his engineering degree in 1990.
Career
Bertelsmann in 1991, Buch began his career in the print and industrial division of Bertelsmann, which was later renamed Arvato. After serving in various positions in sales and marketing of domestic and foreign subsidiaries, he became a member of the executive board of Arvato in 2002. Under his leadership, the international services business grew into a key revenue and profit generator.
In 2008, Buch succeeded Ostrowski as CEO of Arvato and also took up duties as a member of the Bertelsmann executive board. In this position, he promoted business involving services for cities and communities. Moreover, he increasingly invested in digital services to prepare Arvato for the digital transformation.
At the end of 2012, Buch stepped down from the Arvato executive board upon his own wishes and left the group.
Vonovia In 2013, the real estate company Deutsche Annington announced Buch's appointment as CEO. He took the company public, expanding the property portfolio through acquisitions. With the takeover of competitor GAGFAH in the year 2015, he created Germany's largest real estate group. Under the new name of Vonovia, the company was later listed in the DAX blue-chip index.
Vonovia acquired the Austrian property company Buwog in 2018 and Deutsche Wohnen in 2021. The company's business model drew repeated public criticism, and Buch conceded shortcomings in interviews. In 2022, he announced substantial rent increases, which he attributed to high inflation.
In May 2025, Vonovia announced that Buch would hand over the management of the company to Luka Mucic. He left the company at the end of 2025.
Other activities Corporate boards Until May 2009, Buch was member of the supervisory board of the internet service provider Lycos Europe. 11,6 MB Besides, in 2017 and 2018, he was on the board of directors of the Swedish real estate company . Buch has also served on the supervisory board of the Gesellschaft zur Sicherung von Bergmannswohnungen (GSB) and as a member of the board of trustees of Sparkasse Gütersloh's Woldemar Winkler Stiftung foundation.
In October 2025, Buch joined the advisory board of the Hagedorn group, a German demolition and recycling company based in Gütersloh. In December 2025, the investment firm KKR appointed him executive advisor for its DACH region with effect from January 2026.
Non-profit organizations Trilateral Commission, Member of the European GroupMembership Trilateral Commission.
Personal life Buch lives with his wife and two children in Gütersloh.
References
External links
Executive Board of Vonovia