Pictet headquarters in Acacias

The Acacias district is easily accessible with it being well-served by public transportation and located along the major motorways leading in and out of Geneva.

The area is currently experiencing rapid growth and is destined to become a priority area of development for the city of Geneva. Although traditionally zoned for light industry, today the district is undergoing major changes and home to more and more companies in the service sector.

Moreover, to make sure the building's infrastructure and amenities would meet the strict demands of a modern bank (in terms of security, IT, operational facilities, archiving, parking, etc.) the Partners opted to build a new bank rather than buy existing offices.

Jean-François Demole speaks about Pictet moving to its new headquarters in the Acacias district of Geneva and the start of a new era for the 200-year old private bank.


How will staff benefit from the move to the new head office in the Acacias?
Jean-François Demole: Obviously, by having everybody under one roof. Working in closer quarters will make it easier to communicate with one another and will strengthen our corporate culture. That's why the layout of the various departments has been carefully planned so as to enable us to work together as efficiently as possible.

The new building also offers staff a comfortable working environment complete with the latest technical facilities, a proper company restaurant and relaxing break areas.

Furthermore, Acacias is well on the way to becoming a major centre for the service sector, and it offers numerous advantages such as nearby shops, sports facilities and good links by road, rail and public transport – in fact we'll have our own tram stop right outside the office!

Will transferring our activities and resources to the Acacias make any difference to our business approach or values?
Jean-François Demole: Definitely not! Our development strategy and the values on which it is founded will not change in any way. This move should be seen as the next step in a long tradition and not as a break with the past. Our bank is evolving just as the world around us does.

We are leaving a historic district for one that looks to the future, and the imposing premises we have built there are at once functional, aesthetically pleasing and ideally suited to our needs. Nonetheless, the human scale and family feel of our company will not alter – it is only the "packaging" that will be different.

Does the new building symbolise the start of a new era at Pictet?
Jean-François Demole: Yes indeed. First of all, it signifies the partners' total and enduring commitment, along with their confidence in the future of our bank. An investment of this size is no mean undertaking, and illustrates our absolute belief in our professional future. The design and construction of the building was wholly based on our values.

Thus the choice of building materials – such as the façade blocks which are eight metres long and weigh six tonnes each - is synonymous with solidity and endurance. The colour and overall shape of the building embody restraint and discretion. The state-of-the-art technical innovations that have been incorporated into the construction project bear witness to our desire for excellence and integrity. With the move to the new building, Pictet will henceforth benefit from some of the most up-to-date office facilities in Geneva.