Pictet enters into strategic partnership with QGroup, a specialised German provider of cybersecurity solutions
The partnership aims to further strengthen QGroup and drive enhancements in cybersecurity for companies facing an increasingly complex environment. The investment is being made by the Direct Private Equity team of Pictet Alternative Advisors, the Pictet Group’s alternative investment division.
Founded in 1993, QGroup has been a recognised provider of cybersecurity architectures, incident response services, managed security services and highly secure operating models for more than three decades. The company operates globally, serving clients with the highest security requirements — particularly in critical infrastructure (including KRITIS), government and public sector, as well as security-sensitive private sector and industrial settings.
The market for cybersecurity products and services continues to grow strongly, driven by the constantly evolving nature of cyber threats and increasing regulatory requirements. With rising awareness among clients and increasingly complex legal frameworks, this positive trend is expected to continue.
As part of the partnership, QGroup’s experienced management team will remain unchanged. Shareholders Thomas Blumenthal, Melanie Blumenthal and Daniel Persch will continue to hold significant stakes in the company and will lead QGroup going forward.
Nikolaus Hubmann, Head of DACH* Direct Private Equity at Pictet Alternative Advisors, said: “With QGroup, we are gaining a partner with decades of experience in developing and delivering high-security solutions, and which excels both technologically and culturally. The cybersecurity market offers technology- and research-driven companies compelling development opportunities — an environment in which QGroup is very well positioned. The depth of expertise and responsible handling of highly sensitive client environments clearly demonstrate genuine quality and reliability. We very much look forward to our future together.”
Thomas Blumenthal, Founder and CEO of QGroup, added: “Our primary responsibility is to our clients and their security. Only a strong, resilient and well-organised QGroup can meet this responsibility on a sustainable basis. With Pictet, we have found a partner that shares this view and helps us further strengthen our impact and long-term viability — without compromising our identity or our values.”
Note to Editors
About Pictet Group & Pictet Alternative Advisors
The Pictet Group is a partnership of owner-managers, with principles of succession and transmission of ownership that have remained unchanged since foundation in 1805. It offers only wealth management, asset management, alternative investment solutions and related asset services. The Group does not engage in investment banking, nor does it extend commercial loans. With CHF 737 (EUR 788, GBP 688, USD 926) billion in assets under management or custody at 30 September 2025, Pictet is today one of the leading Europe-based independent wealth and asset managers for private clients and institutional investors.
Founded and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Pictet today employs around 5,500 people. It has 31 offices worldwide, in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Basel, Brussels, Dubai, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, Lausanne, Lisbon, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Monaco, Montreal, Munich, Nassau, New York, Osaka, Paris, Rome, Shanghai, Singapore, Stuttgart, Taipei, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, Turin, Verona and Zurich.
Pictet Alternative Advisors (PAA) is an independent unit within the Pictet Group that manages investments in hedge funds, private equity, private debt and real estate assets for both private and institutional clients. Pictet employs circa 200 alternative investment specialists and manages USD 52 billion in alternative strategies, with USD 30 billion in private equity (as of 30 September 2025). With Pictet having invested in private equity since 1989, Pictet Alternative Advisors’ Direct Private Equity team is focused on buying majority stakes in entrepreneur-led and family-owned businesses with proven resilience and high growth potential.
About QGroup
QGroup GmbH is a German cybersecurity specialist headquartered in Wehrheim (Hesse). The company was founded in 1993 by Thomas Blumenthal and has operated exclusively in the field of cybersecurity for more than three decades. QGroup supports clients with the highest security requirements — including security authorities, military and government institutions, operators of critical infrastructure and selected private enterprises. A particular focus lies on highly critical and regulated environments where technical excellence, sovereignty and reliability are essential.
A core area of QGroup’s services is incident response. As a qualified APT response service provider within the meaning of Section 3 of the German Federal Office for Information Security Act (BSIG), QGroup has extensive experience in the technical, organisational and forensic handling of real cyberattacks. This operational depth shapes the company’s architectural decisions, products and operating models.
In addition to consulting and services, QGroup develops its own cybersecurity solutions, including on-premise architectures and security platforms designed for control, transparency and independence. Its approach consistently follows the principle of “architecture before tools” and deliberately opposes black-box models and uncontrollable dependencies.
QGroup currently employs 52 people and operates internationally. The company pursues a long-term, responsibility-driven approach and views cybersecurity not as a product, but as a continuous task involving technology, organisation and people.
