Lord Mayor biography
Alderman Michael Mainelli
Name |
Professor Michael Mainelli MStJ FCCA FCSI(Hon) FBCS FRSA CITP FIC CMC MEIs |
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Born | Seattle, North America |
Spouse | Elisabeth |
Education | Harvard University and Trinity College Dublin; PhD from the London School of Economics |
Business Career
Originally a research scientist in aerospace and computing, he became a senior partner with accountants BDO Binder Hamlyn and later Corporate Development Director for Europe’s largest R&D firm, the Defence Evaluation & Research Agency. During a mergers & acquisitions spell in merchant banking with Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, he co-founded Z/Yen in 1994, the City’s leading think-tank, promoting societal advance through better finance and technology, renowned for its Global Financial, Green Finance, and Smart Centres indices.
Michael chairs Z/Yen Group, FS Club, and Esop (employee share ownership) Centre. He is non-executive director of an AIMlisted mining firm and the United Kingdom Accreditation Service overseeing UK laboratories and quality standards.
Previous/current professional involvement
He has served as Alderman for Broad Street since 2013 and as Sheriff of the City of London 2019-2021. Significant past posts have included Almoner of Christ’s Hospital, International Financial Advisor to the Taoiseach, London Waterways Commissioner, Trustee of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and Trustee of Ocean Alliance.
He has strong connections to the Livery having been a Past Master of the World Traders, Craft-Owning Freeman of the Watermen & Lightermen, Honorary Liveryman of multiple Livery Companies as well as Honorary Freeman of the Educators, and member of the City Livery Club.
Michael Mainelli is the 695th Lord Mayor of the City of London
During his year as Lord Mayor, Alderman Mainelli will act as a spokesman for the City, leading overseas business delegations to key international markets on behalf of the UK financial and professional services industry.
In the role he will meet government representatives, alongside business leaders and policy makers both at home and abroad. He will look to strengthen economic ties with the UK, identify new business opportunities and promote the UK as a top global destination for foreign investment.
During his year as Lord Mayor he will promote his Theme of Connect To Prosper. This initiative is focused on harnessing the City’s vast knowledge ecosystem - with over 40 learned societies, 70 higher education institutions, and 130 research institutes, in and around the City, it is a dynamic hub for innovation. It is made up of many knowledge miles with expertise in art, media, culture, engineering, research, accounting, law, banking, shipping, insurance, and investment management.
Connect to Prosper will bring together thought leaders from the scientific, academic and business worlds to demonstrate the City’s strengths are in solving global challenges. The 2023-24 Mayoral theme will showcase the City’s leadership role as the world’s coffeehouse, where connections between people, firms and institutions lead to new ideas and inventions that benefit the world.