About

About Axel de Chevron Villette

French-born entrepreneur Axel de Chevron-Villette founded Clever Rental LLC, a thriving real estate investment and management company based in Sarasota, Florida. He has acquired an extensive portfolio of real estate investments and renovated historical buildings in France and Florida.

Before transitioning into real estate investment in 2014, Axel had an equally highly successful career spanning nearly 15 years working for some of the world’s most prestigious financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Barclays Capital. His expertise is in economics, quantitative finance, and advanced mathematics. 

Raised in France and fluent in three languages (French, English, and Spanish), Axel’s global perspective has been shaped by his experiences living in London for 12 years, Tokyo for a year, and Sarasota for more than a decade.

Providing Quality Housing at Affordable Prices

Axel’s strong commitment to help communities was the genesis behind the founding of Clever Rental LLC. His aim for low-and middle-income families to have access to quality, affordable, and well-maintained housing. To this end, Axel’s business strategy is based on building long-term value creation and prioritizing responsible property management and sustainable growth.

Over the years, under Axel’s leadership, Clever Rental LLC has successfully navigated economic fluctuations, including making strategic investments to turn market challenges into opportunities for expansion. 

Bringing a 1920’s Apartment Back to Its Golden Era

Notable real estate projects include Rose Hill East Apartments, a historic property Axel owned. The Rose Hill East Apartments, built in 1925, was one of several apartment structures in a historic district within walking distance of downtown Venice, Florida. The town’s renowned designer earmarked the area for apartments that could be rented by the city’s working population, an important component of his ambition to make Venice a diversified, walkable town. 

Recognizing its architectural and cultural significance, Axel undertook the restoration project, saving the building and renovating it to historical standards. Axel’s efforts preserved an important part of the city’s heritage while transforming the property into a vibrant and functional living space. The project and Axel’s work were featured in The Herald Tribune.

Axel’s Investment Banking Career

Axel de Chevron-Villette’s investment career focused on specializing in trading exotic interest rate derivatives. He excelled in complex and highly competitive marketplaces, making hundreds of millions of dollars in profits for companies throughout both up and down markets. His extensive knowledge of quantitative finance, risk management, and market strategy enabled him to handle volatility while capitalizing on strategic opportunities. 

Axel de Chevron-Villette worked for Goldman Sachs in London for three years, where he acquired in-depth knowledge of the options market in a wide range of currencies (mainly EUR, USD and GBP). He was an Interest Rate and FX (Foreign Exchange) Options Trader, managing risk, speculating on market movements, and providing liquidity for institutions, corporations, and investors.

He then worked for Barclays Capital in London for two years, where he was responsible for the trading and risk management of a sizeable exotic book, including Bermudans, Quantos, Spread Options, and highly exotic structures. Axel worked closely with the quantitative team to develop and implement new models (short-rate and Libor market models). He was integral to helping successfully transform Barclays into a leading exotic interest rate house.

In 2007, he moved to Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he worked for six years in London and Tokyo. He managed the European Interest Rate Exotics in various currencies (EUR, USD, GBP, JPY, etc.). He was also responsible for trading and risk management of a wide range of exotic interest-rate products, including Bermudans, CMS, Spread Options, and highly exotic structures. Axel ran large proprietary risk for the firm, consistently generating significant profits.

Axel’s Education

Axel holds a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering from one of France’s top engineering schools, ESTACA, where he graduated as valedictorian. In 2022, he also earned a Master’s in Quantitative Finance from HEC Paris, the country’s leading business school, and graduated with first-class honors. Axel has a Baccalauréat in Sciences with Honors.

Axel’s Personal Life

Axel met his wife, Tracy, in Paris in 1999, and their partnership has been built on adventure, creativity, and a love for bringing together community. They were married in 2005 in France’s scenic Dordogne region and have since been fortunate to cultivate a life that bridges cultures and continents. They have two amazing teenage children who are fortunate to hold dual citizenship.

Tracy is a painter and dedicated entrepreneur, having founded The Clever Cup, a coffee shop and beloved gathering space in Sarasota that’s a home for coffee lovers, artists, musicians, and her work. The Clever Cup reflects Tracy’s passion for supporting local artisans where they can showcase their paintings, pottery, jewelry, and other creations.

Axel and Tracy’s businesses, The Clever Rental LLC and The Clever Cup reflect their shared commitment to quality, sustainability, and creating opportunities that bring people together.

Axel is a talented pianist, and when he can, likes to snowboard.