Pieter De Weerdt

I still find it difficult to put into words the sadness I feel following the passing of Pieter. In the short 6/7 months I had the privilege to work with him, he made a lasting impact on me both personally and professionally.

I'll really miss his sense of humour, his charisma, and the way he always found time for me - no matter how full his schedule was, he was a phone call away. Even the more difficult conversations left me with clarity and purpose, because with Pieter, you always knew where you stood. His leadership was direct, passionate, and full of conviction.

What saddens me most is not having the chance to continue learning under him. But I want to see through the initiaitves he cared about so deeply - now more than ever. It's what he would have wanted, and I want to honour that.

I truly believe that while Pieter may no longer be with us in person, his spirit remains with us. I imagine him smiling down, urging us forward, cheering us on as we continue what he started—and deliver what he always envisioned.

I pray for his family. Rest in peace, Pieter. You are missed, and you will always be remembered. Thank you for believing in me.

Pieter

I had the privilege of working with Pieter for nearly 30 years.
He used our research service on a daily basis, and we had a routine of meeting twice a year in Geneva. We hadn’t been able to see each other earlier this year, so we had planned to have lunch in Paris on April 4th — a lunch he canceled just a few days before…

Why do I say I was lucky to work with him?
Because Pieter wasn’t like anyone else. He was one of those very rare clients — I can count them on one hand — with whom you never felt like you were working for them. Our relationship was simple, straightforward, and built on strong mutual respect.

I truly enjoyed spending time with him. I had the impression — something I’ve very rarely seen in my career — that he treated everyone the same way, whether he was speaking to a hedge fund CEO or to a waiter in a restaurant.

Pieter was loyal and steadfast in his friendships. I remember him attending the funeral of one of my colleagues, simply because he genuinely appreciated him.

I used to tell my wife about two clients I found especially “cool” — Pieter was one of them. He lived his professional life, and his passion like skiing, with intensity, yet always remained relaxed and able to keep distance on things.

Of course, my thoughts are with his family — his wife, his daughter, and his son, whom he often spoke of.
With all my affection, I offer them my deepest condolences.

Philippe Sadock

R.I.P.

It’s hard to put into words what it means to have worked alongside Pieter for 19 years. He was more than just the founder of the company — he was its heartbeat, its energy, and the soul of what we built together.

Pieter saw the world with a rare kind of optimism — the kind that lifted people up, even when things were hard. His cup was always half full — no, overflowing — with energy, ideas, curiosity, and warmth. His mind ran at 200 kilometers an hour, always racing ahead, always exploring what was possible.

I’ll miss our daily phone calls — oftentimes several a day — his “Comment vas tu?” followed inevitably by a confident “Top!” or “C’est tout bon!” regardless of how the day was going. I’ll miss his humor and the ease with which he could shift from tackling a complex business issue to making a mischievous remark. And I’ll even miss the ups and downs — his moods rising and falling with the markets.

His life was as full outside of work as it was within the firm he built and loved. Pieter lived with intensity and joy — with family and friends, sharing special moments over food and often great wine, and bringing people together; from early mornings on the slopes to kite surfing in the sun. He was unfailingly loyal — to his friends, his colleagues, and the people he chose to surround himself with. The mountains gave him peace, the sea gave him freedom, and his people — his tribe — gave him purpose. He lived fully, freely, and without compromise.

Pieter is deeply respected across the industry — not only for what he achieved, but for how he achieved it: with kindness, generosity, loyalty, and an unwavering belief in people. And to those of us who had the privilege of knowing him, he was more than a boss. He was a mentor, a confidant, a friend — someone I came to love deeply and for whom I would do anything.

Even as we feel the enormous void his absence leaves, we must remember that the firm stands on the foundation of the institution he built — an institution anchored by a long-standing, trusted team. Pieter’s legacy lives on in every one of us, and together, we will continue to thrive as he envisioned.

He would be proud — proud of how every member of the Antarctica family has stepped up with strength, unity, and heart. We will carry his vision forward with purpose and resilience — bold, united, and committed to the journey he began and that we now continue, together for him, and for one another.

Pieter, thank you — for your wisdom, your laughter, your intensity, and your enormous heart. It’s been a wild and beautiful ride. I wouldn’t trade a single moment.

C’est pas tout bon today, but it will be.

Rest in peace, Pieter.