Unveiling High-Potential Opportunities, Driving Exceptional Results

Max-Hervé George, is a distinguished French entrepreneur, property developer, and a billionaire. He is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Icona Capital. Prior to establishing Icona Capital, George co-founded Ultima Capital Group, where he served as a CEO, showcasing his expertise and leadership in the financial and investment sectors. His entrepreneurial acumen and impact have earned him widespread recognition. 

In 2019, George was named to the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list and featured on the magazine’s cover, a testament to his significant influence in the business world. George was ranked among the top 100 successful young individuals and the 300 richest people by Bilan, a leading Swiss Business Publication. Throughout his career, he has directly and indirectly been involved in transactions worth billions of euros, further affirming his strategic expertise and commitment to driving growth in both private equity and property development.

With extensive experience in infrastructure, data centres, and real estate, Bruno Vannini, our Managing Partner brings a wealth of expertise in driving strategic investments and managing complex projects. His professional journey includes senior roles at the top-tier law firms such as SBKG & Associés, Clifford Chance, and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. In these positions, he provided legal counsel on a wide range of high-profile transactions, honing their ability to navigate intricate legal and business environments within the infrastructure and real estate sectors. 

In addition to his legal and professional accomplishments, he has held leadership roles within prestigious organizations. Notably, he served as a former Board Member at the Global Trade Centre, contributing valuable insights and strategic direction to international trade initiatives.

Alexandros, or “Alex,” is responsible for leading Icona Capital’s investment strategy and execution. With a background in distressed real estate and structured finance, Alex has structured and managed over €1 billion in assets across various sectors. Before moving to the buy side, he sat with J.P. Morgan within the Special Opportunities division, structuring over €2 billion in real estate lending and loan acquisitions.

Margaux Hirzel brings a wealth of operational and administrative expertise to Icona Capital. As an Executive Assistant to the CEO, she manages key corporate affairs, ensuring smooth executive operations. Previously, Margaux served as Managing Partner at Ultima Collection, where she played a pivotal role in accounting management, property pre-openings, and overseeing real estate projects to ensure smooth operations. Known for her operational expertise, she is instrumental in coordinating complex logistics and administrative functions, enabling efficient execution at all levels.

Her career also includes roles at Hotel Royal Savoy Lausanne, where she served as Finance Coordinator, overseeing income audits, accounts payable, and receivable processes.

Stephanie Aslan leads Icona Capital’s credit strategy, drawing on her extensive career in investment banking and real estate finance. In this capacity, Stephanie led numerous high-profile real estate single asset and portfolio financings across Europe both at Citigroup and Nomura. Prior to that, Stephanie also acted on the buy-side at Blackstone, as Head of Capital Markets of their logistics subsidiary Logicor where she focused on the successful sale of the unit to CIC in 2017.


Stephanie started her career in the Financial Management Program of GE Capital and has over 20 years of experience in the finance industry. She holds a Master in Management (majored in Finance) from EM Lyon in France.

Roberto Giacalone is a seasoned macro investor with more than 25 years of experience in global financial markets. Before joining Icona Capital, Roberto held senior investment positions at hedge funds, mutual funds, and proprietary trading desks, serving as Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and board member, among other roles. With over twenty years of market experience and a strong academic foundation in economics, he has successfully navigated four major financial crises, consistently delivering positive results for his clients. Roberto holds a PhD in Economics.

Klara Bujdoso brings nearly two decades of legal experience in corporate governance, private equity, and cross-border transactions. Before joining Icona, she served as General Counsel at Globe Trade Centre S.A., where she led a team of 15 lawyers across Europe. In this role, she was responsible for managing complex cross-border real estate transactions and overseeing all legal affairs for the publicly listed company.

Alexandre Piechaud is responsible for overseeing Icona Capital’s global finance and operations. With a strong background in corporate finance and business management, Alexandre ensures that Icona’s financial operations are streamlined, efficient, and strategically aligned. His extensive background also includes experience as an insurance specialist at Mestria Group, providing expertise in life insurance and real estate financing for high-net-worth clients.

Ricardo Gato leads the communications and marketing strategies at Icona Capital, working to elevate the firm’s brand presence and support its growth initiatives. Throughout his career, Ricardo has held significant positions at renowned companies like Ultima Collection, Cookson Adventures, and NetJets Europe, where he was instrumental in brand creation, strategic partnership development, and executing successful marketing campaigns. His innovative approach has earned him industry recognition, including the 2019 In-house Marketer of the Year award from The Chartered Institute of Marketing.