Norwegian entrepreneur in Switzerland finished as CEO after 17 years – E24

Now he wants to invest together with emigrants.

– I think I have had contact with absolutely all Norwegians living in Switzerland, directly or indirectly. They want to make money, and get “cash flow” into Switzerland.

Hans Holdener (58) resigns as CEO of the Zurich-based management company Helvetica. He started the company together with Thomas Holst in 2006. The company specializes in property and currently manages NOK 22 billion.

Holdener will now continue to work with strategy through his role as board member.

He will also spend time on his own investments. Holdener says that he would like to cooperate with Norwegians.

– Many Norwegians find Swiss property exciting, but have no idea how the market works.

In dialogue about property investment

Holdener points out a difference between Switzerland and Norway.

– If you come to Norway with 3 billion, everyone will want to talk to you. But if you bring such a fortune to Switzerland, nobody cares.

– Here, people must have help and invest together with partners. There has been great demand among Norwegians who wonder how they can enter the market.

He is already working on his first project. There are two residential properties in Zurich with a total value of NOK 230-240 million, says Holdener.

– We opened the “deal” today and are setting up a structure where there will be 6-10 of us. We have been in dialogue with several Swiss and some Norwegians, says Holdener, who will not name the potential investors.

He does not want to share information about his own wealth.

Don’t want to move home

Holdener says that he made an attempt to resign in 2019, but that they did not find the right candidate to take over the job.

– I have thought about it for many years. Now, in connection with the fact that the market has changed character, there is a need for new types of forces. I am quite tired after intense years, working seven days a week.

The property market, also in Switzerland, has been hit hard by sky-high inflation and interest rates which have risen sharply.

Holdener tries several linguistic images to describe how the market has soured:

– It was as if someone says that “you have such a big nose”, and you’ve never thought about it before, but then you can’t think of anything else.

– We were wearing shorts in 30 degrees, then suddenly it was minus 20 degrees and we were left in shorts.

– You have no intention of moving back to Norway, then?

– No, I haven’t, Holdener answers on the phone.