Latest news with #MaxHerveGeorge
Arabian Business
07-07-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Max-Hervé George Leads SWI Group's Bold Pivot Toward AI and Data Infrastructure
In a world where investment capital often chases the next shiny object, SWI Group stands out for its methodical, long-view approach to wealth creation. Headquartered in Switzerland, the firm has spent the past decade building a reputation as a thoughtful and agile allocator of capital across diverse industries. Now, under the guidance of its chairman and co-CEO, Max-Hervé George, the firm is turning its focus to one of the most consequential shifts of the 21 st century: artificial intelligence and the data infrastructure needed to support it. The decision is not simply about staying current—it reflects a strategic belief that AI and digital infrastructure will define the next era of productivity, sovereignty, and value creation in Europe. Traditionally, SWI Group has invested across real estate, private equity, financial services, and hospitality. That track record has given it an understanding of asset cycles, risk mitigation, and cross-border opportunity. But today, the group is redeploying its resources into high-impact verticals that power the digital economy. 'SWI Group was built on anticipating what's next,' said Max-Hervé George. 'Right now, we see AI as the defining growth vector—and data centres as the hardware layer of that future.' As demand for digital services grows, the need for robust, scalable, and energy-efficient data centres has surged to support advancements in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. AI's rise only amplifies this demand. From training large language models to powering real-time analytics, these computing workloads require infrastructure that's resilient, low-latency, and secure. SWI's strategy is as much philosophical as it is financial. The firm is not just allocating capital—it's reimagining where value will be created over the next 10 to 15 years. This means identifying underserved European markets, aligning with policymakers, and partnering with tech-forward operators who understand both the technical and regulatory dimensions of infrastructure. But even as it charts a new path, SWI is not abandoning its diversified roots. The company's multi-sector experience helps de-risk its forward-looking bets, while its flexible structure allows it to act swiftly in a fast-moving investment environment. George emphasises that this shift is not speculative. 'We're not chasing hype—we're backing fundamentals. The world's need for secure computation, responsible AI, and sustainable infrastructure is only growing. Europe is the place to build it.' With a portfolio that now straddles the physical and digital, SWI Group is positioning itself not just as a capital allocator but as a contributor to Europe's evolving digital infrastructure.
Entrepreneur
03-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Max-Hervé George Details SWI's Investment Case for Underground AI and Data Infrastructure
As AI reshapes economic landscapes, SWI Group specializes in delivering the essential, high-performance infrastructure that underpins all intelligent systems. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur Asia Pacific, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. SWI Group, a recently merged entity formed from Stoneweg and Icona Capital with over €10 billion in assets under management, has broadened its investment remit to include digital infrastructure across Europe. Known for its pan-European real assets platform and alternatives strategy, the group is now building out foundational technologies that support intelligent systems. "We are at the start of a secular transformation in how data is processed, stored, and monetized," said Max-Hervé George. "Our aim is to invest not just in trends, but in foundations." SWI Group, under the leadership of Max-Hervé George, has begun acquiring and developing AI-ready data centers, edge compute nodes, and sovereign compute regions in locations selected for access to renewable energy, regulatory stability, and potential for future expansion. This infrastructure push represents a strategic shift that aligns SWI's long-term capital cycle with Europe's growing demand for compliant and resilient compute capacity. In parallel, SWI is retrofitting brownfield sites to meet state‑of‑the‑art technical and sustainability benchmarks. Modular designs and efficient cooling systems are being deployed to ensure adherence to EU ESG regulations and prepare for forthcoming AI‑centric frameworks. Leveraging its combined structure—Stoneweg Real Assets and Icona Alternatives—SWI benefits from deep expertise in structured finance, thematic investing, and operational delivery. That cross‑functional advantage strengthens the underwriting of complex digital infrastructure. The current pipeline spans enterprise, government, and cloud‑oriented facilities offering stable, utility‑style revenue and diversified use cases. With Europe sharpening its focus on secure and ethically aligned AI deployment, SWI's infrastructure play reflects both commercial foresight and robust institutional support.
Telegraph
29-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
French tycoon to cash in on Labour's data centre blitz
A French tycoon is plotting to cash in on the Labour-backed boom in data centres after snapping up planning rights for a landmark development in Cambridgeshire. Max-Hervé George, who runs Swiss-based investment fund SWI Group, has bought a site earmarked for development near Sutton-in-the-Isle with the intention of constructing one of the UK's biggest data centres. Mr George's fund said the new site, which won planning permission three years ago under a different developer, would target a capacity of 330 megawatts (MW) – making it one of the most significant projects in Britain. Mr George's move highlights a new gold rush for data centres after they were classed as critical national infrastructure last September, with Sir Keir Starmer creating 'AI growth zones' so that they can be built more quickly. The Cambridgeshire site aims to cater to a cluster of global technology businesses located in Britain's so-called 'golden triangle' between Cambridge, Oxford and London. It is among a slew of projects lined up across Britain that underpin the Prime Minister's strategy for economic growth. Under the plan, SWI Group has acquired the existing rights and planning permission from another business to develop the land. It plans to invest around £3bn to bring the site to life although the money is yet to be raised. Mr George, 35, said that his business has been 'unstinting and steadfast' in its efforts to create 'Europe's most valuable data centre groups'. He added: 'When we first got involved with data centres six years ago, we could see the demand for computing was going to grow dramatically, but the explosion in the growth of AI has taken even us by surprise.' The Sutton project will be the group's fifth data centre to operate under its AiOnX brand, adding to its sites in Ireland, Denmark, Spain and Italy. SWI is looking to invest more than €20bn (£14.6bn) into the centres, to provide a total capacity of 2 gigawatts. Mr George set up SWI Group earlier this year by merging his Icona Capital business with Switzerland's Stoneweg, a fund manager. He told The Telegraph in March that at least half of the fund's €10bn pot could be ultimately invested in British assets, in what could be a major boost for Sir Keir's push to attract overseas capital and bolster economic growth. Mr George said at the time that he was 'intensively looking to invest in data centres', as well as warehousing and logistics properties. Beyond SWI Group, Mr George made his millions through 'golden ticket' life insurance contracts sold by Aviva France. Under those contracts, which he first received at the age of seven from his father, customers were able to trade funds based on the previous week's prices.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Max-Hervé George Leads SWI Group's Strategic Expansion into European AI and Data Centre Investments
Chairman Max-Hervé George leads the Swiss investment firm into sectors poised to shape Europe's next phase of economic growth. GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / / June 24, 2025 / SWI Group, a global investment firm with a diversified asset base across real estate, finance, and private equity, today announced an expansion of its investment focus to include artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure in Europe. This strategic shift aligns with the firm's commitment to supporting high-impact industries with long-term value creation potential. With the rapid rise of AI technologies and increased demand for digital sovereignty, Europe is transforming its digital backbone. SWI Group's investments in data centres and AI-enabling infrastructure are designed to accelerate this transition. Chairman and Co-CEO Max-Hervé George commented: "Artificial intelligence represents a historic leap in productivity and innovation. By investing in the infrastructure that supports it, we're laying the groundwork for the next generation of economic growth-not just for SWI, but for the broader European economy." Data centres - often overlooked but increasingly critical - are the unsung infrastructure enabling the modern economy. As workloads become more complex and energy-intensive, next-generation facilities will require high-density compute capacity, green energy integration, and low-latency connectivity. SWI Group is actively exploring both greenfield and brownfield opportunities across Europe to meet this demand. Founded on principles of adaptability and long-term thinking, SWI Group's diversified investment portfolio now includes strategic bets in tech-driven sectors. The firm continues to maintain strong positions in traditional asset classes while responding to shifts in global capital flows and innovation patterns. With Switzerland as its base, SWI Group enjoys access to a broad talent pool, a stable regulatory environment, and proximity to major European innovation corridors. The company also places a strong emphasis on sustainability and compliance, ensuring all data infrastructure investments meet emerging ESG standards and future-proof regulatory requirements. As part of its initiative, SWI is actively forming partnerships with technology providers, infrastructure developers, and AI companies to create a vertically integrated investment pipeline. The firm's flexible capital structure enables it to operate across early-stage ventures, infrastructure projects, and growth equity opportunities. With billions under management and a growing network of partners, SWI Group aims to be a central actor in shaping Europe's digital future. Media DetailsCompany Name: SWI GroupContact Person: Alexander MaxwellMail: Alexander@ Geneva, SwitzerlandWebsite: SOURCE: SWI Group View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
