David Delarive
Direct Real Estate Fund Manager
David Delarive is Senior Manager and Fund Manager, Direct Real Estate Funds. He leads the firm's direct real estate activity "MFM Real Estate SICAV", a FINMA-approved investment company dedicated to Hospitality assets. His investment philosophy rests on an integrated approach in which the fund owns the real estate and partners with specialised operators, because in hospitality the value of an asset is driven as much by the quality of its operation as by its walls.
Together with the board and investment committee, he steered the fund's FINMA approval, obtained in June 2026. He now leads its investment strategy, deal sourcing and structuring, as well as the relationship with investors, operators and the fund's partners: depositary bank, auditor and independent experts.
David has over 15 years of experience across audit, finance, real estate and hospitality. He began his career at PwC in Geneva, in the Assurance practice, and holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance, magna cum laude, from Webster University. He also served as an officer in the Swiss Armed Forces, as a First Lieutenant deputy company commander with the "grenadiers de char".
At MFM, David brings a distinctive combination of perspectives: the rigour of an auditor, the discipline of a military officer and the hands-on experience of an entrepreneur.
As former CEO of Delarive Groupe, he oversaw activities spanning real estate, hospitality, wealth management and private equity. His entrepreneurial experience includes ventures in sustainable hospitality, energy-transition financing, consulting and property management, giving him a practical understanding of both real estate ownership and operations.
This experience shapes his conviction that an asset should be understood as a business before being treated as a building. He takes a similarly pragmatic approach to sustainability, favouring concrete, measurable action over labels.
Outside his work, David is a passionate kitesurfer. He loves the sense of freedom of riding the wind and the raw power of each gust. The sport has also taught him patience, waiting for the right conditions before committing, and the discipline of getting back up after every fall. He believes both lessons apply as much to investing and entrepreneurship as to the water. A wine lover, he values the craft, the terroir and the human stories behind each estate. A husband and father, he finds in family life the balance that drives his long-term vision.
