Just a few weeks before his 78th birthday, our founder Bernard Nicod gave an in-depth interview to L'Illustré on July 9, 2026. This is an opportunity to look back on nearly fifty years of a career that has left a lasting mark on the real estate landscape of French-speaking Switzerland.
Following his appearance on the show “Banc public” on La Télé, Bernard Nicod continues his engagement with the French-speaking Swiss public: This week, L’Illustré is featuring an in-depth profile of him, written by Ariane Dayer.
In the article, the founder recounts how his calling was born on a construction site as a child, while watching the architect oversee the building of his family’s lakeside villa. Although he comes from a long line of doctors, he chose a different path at a very early age: that of business and construction. After getting his start in real estate in the mid-1970s, he founded his own company in 1977, at the age of 29.
The interview highlights a conviction that has remained unchanged over the decades: controlling the entire chain, from construction to property management, including brokerage. This integrated approach remains the hallmark of the Bernard Nicod Group to this day.
True to his reputation, Bernard Nicod also shares his work philosophy, summed up in a phrase that reflects his character: “Retirement is for lazy people. ”
Some key points mentioned in the interview:
- More than 2,350 properties under management
- A real estate portfolio estimated at approximately 18 billion francs
- Nearly 670 million francs in rent collected each year
- The equivalent of approximately 10% of the Vaud real estate market
Read the full interview in the July 9, 2026, issue of L’Illustré, now available at newsstands and as an e-paper at illustre.ch
You can also read our news article about Bernard Nicod’s appearance on the show “Banc public”: https://www.bernard-nicod.ch/fr/news/bernard-nicod-retirement-i-will-never-take-it-7397
Founded in 1977, the Bernard Nicod Group now has 11 offices in French-speaking Switzerland and covers all areas of the real estate industry: brokerage, property management, construction, and development.
Photo: Julie de Tribolet / L'Illustré