Leszek Czarnecki

Leszek Janusz Czarnecki (born 9 May 1962 in Wrocław) is a Polish billionaire.

His main business activity is banking.

He is an engineer by education and a doctor of economics.

Graduate of Harvard Business School (AMP).

In 1986, his passion for cave diving led him to set up a commercial diving company – Przedsiębiorstwo Hydrotechniki i Inżynierii TAN.

He was the creator and main shareholder of Europejski Fundusz Leasingowy (European Leasing Fund) which he set up in 1991.

This was the first and, eventually, the largest lease company in Poland.

In 1993–1995, he was the deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board, and later the CEO of Polbank S.A. (GMAC Bank).

In 1996-1997, Leszek Czarnecki was the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of an insurance company based in Wrocław TU Europa na Życie S.A, and in 1997 he became the CEO of TU Europa S.A. and TU Europa na Życie S.A. for the next two years.

In 1998, Leszek Czarnecki was granted the Wall Street Journal award for the Best CEO in Central Europe, as one of the 10 renowned businessmen in the region.

In the same year, he also won the global finals of the Young Business Achiever, a contest that is held in Beijing.

In 2001, he sold it to the French bank Credit Agricole for PLN 900 million, and became the CEO of Credit Agricole Poland.

At that time, he was also managing other group's companies, such as EFL, Lukas Bank, TU Europa, TU na Życie Europa, and Getin Service Provider S.A.

In 2002-2003, he was the CEO and managing director responsible for leasing and insurance at Credit Agricole Poland.

Until the end of November 2004, he was the CEO of Getin Holding, and until May 2006 CEO of Getin Bank.

In April 2004, celebrating the 25th anniversary of its presence in the European market, the Financial Times recognised Leszek Czarnecki as one of the 25 emerging stars of European business to set up the directions for the development of financial markets.

Leszek Czarnecki was the only Pole included in the FT list.

In October 2004, Leszek Czarnecki joined the honorary members of the Polish Association of Lease Companies, and in November he was included in the group of four individuals recognised as Entrepreneur of the Year from Eastern Europe by INSEAD, one of the best business universities in Europe, and the French Minister of Finance.

In September 2005, he received the prestigious Lesław Paga award honouring his achievements and personal contribution to the development of the financial services market in Poland.

Leszek Czarnecki was elected as the Player of the Year by the Polish Edition of Forbes magazine three years in a row – in 2005, 2006, and 2007.

Since 2006 he lives in Malta.

He graduated from Wrocław University of Technology, Faculty of Sanitary Engineering; gained a doctorate in economics at Wrocław University of Economics, graduated from the AMP programme at Harvard Business School.

He is the main shareholder in five companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange – Getin Holding, Getin Noble Bank, Idea Bank, MW Trade, and Open Finance.

In 2006 he purchased Poltegor Centre for €17.5 million, built in the mid-1970s in the city centre of Wrocław, and at that time the city's tallest building.

In place of the demolished building, Czarnecki, along with the investor LC Corp, built Sky Tower.

Banks

Insurance

Since June 2007, he has been the Chairman of Getin Holding's Supervisory Board and a member of the Supervisory Boards of other companies belonging to the Getin Holding Group.

In November 2009, Leszek Czarnecki was recognised in the Entrepreneur of the Year contest organised by Ernst & Young and received an honorary award for employing new staff in times of deep economic crisis.

The same month, Puls Biznesu nominated him for the title of the Entrepreneur of the Twenty-Year Independence Period.

Since the merger of Getin Bank with Noble Bank (January 2010), he has been the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Getin Noble Bank.

In March 2010, Gazeta Finansowa awarded him the title of the Financier of the Year 2009.

May 2010 saw Leszek Czarnecki receive from PKPP Lewiatan the Andrzej Wierzbicki Award for his success in business and active contribution to the business environment.

Leszek Czarnecki was awarded the honourable medal by the Polish Insurance Association for the longstanding cooperation and support of the Association.

TU Europa (sold to Talanx in 2011)

Leasing

Financial brokerage

Real estate

Other companies

He is the author of five books: