Credit: GRI InstituteStoneweg CEO Jaume Sabater is named Person of the Year
Exclusive interview with Stoneweg’s Jaume Sabater, as he was awarded Person of the Year at the GRI Awards Real Estate Europe 2025
October 1, 2025Real Estate
Written by Helen Richards
Recognising his contribution to excellence in the European real estate market, Jaume Sabater, CEO of Stoneweg, was awarded the prestigious Person of the Year at the GRI Awards Real Estate - Europe 2025 earlier this month, at an exclusive awards ceremony in Paris.
When Stoneweg was founded in 2015, it was a modest five-person operation in Geneva. Today, it has grown into a global platform with over 300 employees and CHF 6 billion deployed. At the helm of this transformation is a leader who insists the journey has been less about personal ambition and more about collective resilience and passion.
Since founding the company in 2015 you’ve grown Stoneweg from a 5-person team in Geneva to a global platform with over 300 employees and CHF 6 billion deployed. How did you achieve this scale so quickly?
Looking back, the past decade has been shaped by both joy and challenges. We’ve navigated crises - COVID, financial shocks, wars, rising interest rates - yet what sustained us was the commitment to our mission and the simple enjoyment of what we do. Being surrounded by trusted partners and colleagues I deeply respect has been fundamental. Growth was never just about expanding; it was about building something meaningful together.
We don’t see real estate purely through a financial lens. What matters most is the use of the asset and the demand it creates. Residential isn’t just about constructing apartments; it’s about creating places where people live. Offices aren’t simply square footage; they are environments where people spend a large part of their lives. That operational dimension, the ability of an asset to serve people and sustain demand, is what guides us. It’s also where the most resilient opportunities are found.
Looking ahead, what do you hope will be the legacy of your leadership, both for Stoneweg and for the European real estate community as a whole?
I don’t think in terms of my leadership. What we’ve achieved has been the product of trust, teamwork, and long-standing partnerships. I’m proud that the five colleagues who started with me ten years ago are still here today, pushing forward alongside many new faces. That sense of continuity, of building and growing with people I genuinely enjoy working with, is the real legacy. It’s about collective progress rather than individual credit.
What does receiving the Person of the Year award from the GRI Institute mean to you personally and professionally?
I see it as recognition of the team rather than of myself. Of course, I appreciate the honour, but I don’t feel it belongs solely to me. It reflects the effort, resilience, and passion of everyone at Stoneweg. If anything, the award highlights the strength of the collective, and that’s what I value most.
Watch the full interview with Jaume Sabater here.
Recognising his contribution to excellence in the European real estate market, Jaume Sabater, CEO of Stoneweg, was awarded the prestigious Person of the Year at the GRI Awards Real Estate - Europe 2025 earlier this month, at an exclusive awards ceremony in Paris.
When Stoneweg was founded in 2015, it was a modest five-person operation in Geneva. Today, it has grown into a global platform with over 300 employees and CHF 6 billion deployed. At the helm of this transformation is a leader who insists the journey has been less about personal ambition and more about collective resilience and passion.
Since founding the company in 2015 you’ve grown Stoneweg from a 5-person team in Geneva to a global platform with over 300 employees and CHF 6 billion deployed. How did you achieve this scale so quickly?
Looking back, the past decade has been shaped by both joy and challenges. We’ve navigated crises - COVID, financial shocks, wars, rising interest rates - yet what sustained us was the commitment to our mission and the simple enjoyment of what we do. Being surrounded by trusted partners and colleagues I deeply respect has been fundamental. Growth was never just about expanding; it was about building something meaningful together.
Jaume Sabater collected his Person of the Year award at an exclusive awards ceremony in Paris during Europe GRI 2025. (GRI Institute)
You’ve noted that valuations have stabilised and we may be at a turning point for European real estate. In this cautious environment, what indicators are you watching most closely, and which sectors do you see as offering the most compelling opportunities right now?We don’t see real estate purely through a financial lens. What matters most is the use of the asset and the demand it creates. Residential isn’t just about constructing apartments; it’s about creating places where people live. Offices aren’t simply square footage; they are environments where people spend a large part of their lives. That operational dimension, the ability of an asset to serve people and sustain demand, is what guides us. It’s also where the most resilient opportunities are found.
Looking ahead, what do you hope will be the legacy of your leadership, both for Stoneweg and for the European real estate community as a whole?
I don’t think in terms of my leadership. What we’ve achieved has been the product of trust, teamwork, and long-standing partnerships. I’m proud that the five colleagues who started with me ten years ago are still here today, pushing forward alongside many new faces. That sense of continuity, of building and growing with people I genuinely enjoy working with, is the real legacy. It’s about collective progress rather than individual credit.
What does receiving the Person of the Year award from the GRI Institute mean to you personally and professionally?
I see it as recognition of the team rather than of myself. Of course, I appreciate the honour, but I don’t feel it belongs solely to me. It reflects the effort, resilience, and passion of everyone at Stoneweg. If anything, the award highlights the strength of the collective, and that’s what I value most.
Watch the full interview with Jaume Sabater here.