# Leszek Czarnecki ## Who is Leszek Czarnecki? Leszek Janusz Czarnecki (born May 9, 1962) is a prominent Polish entrepreneur, engineer, and economist. He is the founder and former chairman of Getin Holding, a conglomerate of financial institutions including Getin Noble Bank, Idea Bank, and others. Czarnecki holds degrees from Wrocław University of Technology and Harvard Business School, and has been recognized as one of Central Europe's top CEOs and a global business leader. ## Background and History Czarnecki began his career in 1986 with Przedsiębiorstwo Hydrotechniki i Inęzjnierii TAN, a company specializing in underwater engineering. He later founded Europejski Fundusz Leasingowy, Poland's first and largest leasing company, which he sold to Crédit Agricole in 2001. His business empire expanded to include banking, insurance, and investment services, with Getin Holding becoming a major player on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. ## Key Facts - **Education**: Engineer from Wrocław University of Technology; MBA from Harvard Business School - **Business Ventures**: Founder of Getin Holding, Getin Noble Bank, Idea Bank, and other financial institutions - **Awards**: Named "CEO of the Year" by Warsaw Stock Exchange (2013), "Business Leader of the Year" (2011) - **Wealth**: Ranked 721st in Forbes World's Billionaires (2010) with $1.4 billion net worth ## Notable People - **Jolanta Pieńkowska**: Wife and co-founder of the Fundacja Jolanty i Leszka Czarneckich - **Timothy Garton Ash, Norman Davies, Margaret MacMillan**: Founders of Oxford Noble Foundation - **Mark Chrzanowski**: Former head of KNF who resigned amid controversy ## Key Events - **1986**: Founded Przedsiębiorstwo Hydrotechniki i Inęzjnierii TAN - **2001**: Sold Europejski Fundusz Leasingowy to Crédit Agricole for $900 million - **2010**: Merged Getin Bank and Noble Bank to form Getin Noble Bank - **2018**: Controversy over alleged bribery involving KNF head Mark Chrzanowski ## Business Portfolio ### Banks - Getin Noble Bank (merged entity) - Idea Bank (sold to various investors) - Idea Bank Ukraine (sold 2021) ### Insurance - Open Life (49% stake) - TU Europa (sold to Talanx) ### Leasing - Idea Getin Leasing - Europejski Fundusz Leasingowy (sold 2002) ### Other Ventures - LC Corp (real estate, sold 2017) - TAN (sold 1991) ## Philanthropy Czarnecki co-founded the Fundacja Jolanty i Leszka Czarneckich, which supports education and healthcare initiatives. He has donated over $1.5 million to cancer research and underwater exploration projects. ## Diving Achievements Czarnecki is a Polish and world record holder in underwater diving. His notable achievements include: - **194m dive** in Boesmansgat cave (2003) - **17km underwater route** in Dos Ojos cave (2006) - **Bikini Atoll dives** for WWII wreck exploration ## Controversy In 2018, Czarnecki was implicated in a bribery scandal involving former KNF head Mark Chrzanowski, who resigned after allegations of seeking $40 million in exchange for favorable treatment. ## Recognition - "The Best CEO in Central Europe" (2004) - "Polish Market 2015" award - Medal for 100 years of Wrocław University of Technology ## Personal Life Married to journalist Jolanta Pieńkowska since 2008. Holds a pilot's license and has two children from a previous marriage. ## Publications - *Biznes po prostu* (2011) - *Ryzyko w bankowości* (2011) - *Lider Alfa* (2018) ## External Links - [Fundacja Jolanty i Leszka Czarneckich](https://www.czarnecki.pl/fundacja) - [Oxford Noble Foundation](https://www.oxfordnoble.org) ## Image Credits [Getin Noble Bank logo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Getin_Noble_Bank_logo.svg) [Sky Tower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sky_Tower_Wroc%C5%82aw.jpg) [Oceanic diving](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Underwater_dive.jpg) [Oxford campus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:University_of_Oxford_-_Main_Quadrangle.jpg) [Polish diving team](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nurkowanie_w_Polsce.jpg)