Jerry Saffrie (1971) is the founder and CEO of Covast, a company specializing in the acquisition, development, and transformation of real estate. In addition, Covast offers the opportunity to invest
in a wide variety of construction and residential projects.
From a young age, Jerry Saffrie began entrepreneurshipby taking over his parents' hair salon in Utrecht. Under his leadership, he grew the chain into a franchise with salons throughout the province. This success created room for further ventures, and Saffrie took his first steps into real estate by purchasing residential properties in Aruba. He renovated these homes, converted them into multiple apartments, and then rented them out. He brought this formula back to the Netherlands, and from that moment on, Covast was born.
In addition to the acquisition and transformation of various properties, Jerry Saffrie noticed a demand emerging for the expertise that Covast has to offer. His extensive experience with permits, contracts, and the fiscal and legal aspects of real estate became available to clients and from that moment on formed a new, solid advisory pillar for the growing business. Partly due to the strong network of real estate specialists with highly diverse legal, tax, and commercial backgrounds, Covast can provide its clients with advice on a broad spectrum of real estate-related topics. Partly due to this expansion of services Covast, unlike many other real estate companies, easily survived the credit crisis and the subsequent difficult period of the pandemic, emerging even stronger than before.
Beyond business, Jerry Saffrie is keen to make a positive mark on the cities and neighborhoods where he develops his diverse range of real estate projects. This is reflected not only in the high quality standards he sets for his construction projects, but also in his desire to enhance the surrounding environment. There is a strong focus on preserving the authentic details and stories that are often deeply intertwined with a city or district. For Saffrie, involving the local community is a prerequisite. A great example is the transformation of the gym belonging to Judo champion and Dutch pride Anton Geesink. The original materials from Geesink's gym have been integrated into the 24 apartments that were redeveloped on this hallowed judo ground.
In addition to his love for beautiful, sustainable, and authentic building projects, Jerry Saffrie also has a deep love for 'his' Utrecht. The 'Heart Beat Gala' is one of the charities he holds dear, and he also provides financial support to the petting zoo in Maarssen.
Covast currently has around ten employees and, in addition to the Dutch market, also has projects across the border.