John Studzinski CBE

John J. Studzinski

John Studzinski established the Genesis Foundation in 2001 with the aim of nurturing emerging talent in the arts.

Born in Boston, Massachussetts, he has been living and working in Europe for well over two decades.  Currently Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Corporate Advisory Services for financial services group Blackstone, which he joined in 2006, he previously held senior positions at HSBC and Morgan Stanley Europe.

In addition to his hands-on involvement with the Genesis Foundation, John works tirelessly for the homeless; he is a founding member and trustee of the Passage Day Centre for the Homeless in Victoria in London and also chairs the Emmaus Revives Lives campaign.  In recognition of his work for the homeless he received the Prince of Wales Ambassador's Award in 2000 and in 2002 was made a Knight of the Order of St Gregory by Pope John Paul II.

John Studzinski is also committed to the field of human rights and is Vice-Chair and Director of New York-based Human Rights Watch, serving on its Executive Committee and chairing its Investment Committee.  Beyond that he is a trustee of Bowdoin College (Maine, USA), the Tate Foundation, and the Royal Parks Foundation, and is a member of the Council of The Royal College of Art.  In mid-2007 he stepped down as a trustee of the Tate and became Chairman of Benjamin Franklin House.

He received the Beacon Prize in 2004 for services to philanthropy and in 2008 was named in the Queen's New Years Honours List as a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to the arts and to charity.

Click HERE for John Studzinski's interview with the Sunday Telegraph (1 June, 2008)...