Outside Appointments
City & Guilds of London Institute
Morden College
Chairman, The Lord Mayor’s Appeal
The Lord Mayor’s 800th Anniversary Awards Trust
The Lord Mayor’s Show
Livery Companies Apprenticeship Scheme
Chairman, Pan-Livery Steering Group
Career Synopsis
Professor Michael Mainelli KStJ OMRI FCCA FCSI(Hon) FBCS; Chairman, Z/Yen Group; President, London Chamber of Commerce & Industry – Michael is a scientist and economist promoting societal advance through better finance and technology. Originally a research scientist in aerospace (rocket science) and computing (architecture & cartography), educated at Harvard, Trinity College Dublin, he gained his PhD from the London School of Economics, where he was also Visiting Professor in innovation and IT. He became a senior partner of accountants BDO Binder Hamlyn, and Corporate Development Director for the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Evaluation & Research Agency. During a mergers & acquisitions spell in merchant banking with Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, in 1994 he founded Z/Yen, the City of London’s leading think-tank. Z/Yen is renowned for its Global Financial, Green Finance, and Smart Centres indices, as well as notable ‘firsts’ in technology research. Michael has advised numerous governments and municipalities around the world, including four years as International Financial Services Advisor to the Office of the Taoiseach. Michael is a fellow of Gresham College, King’s College London, Birkbeck College, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and Goodenough College, visiting professor at UCL’s Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction and City St George’s University of London, Honorary Bencher of Middle Temple, and non-executive director of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and a listed mining company. He is active in fourteen livery companies, past Master of the World Traders, an Alderman of the City of London for Broad Street, late Lord Mayor of London 2023-2024 and Sheriff 2019-2021, with charity interests in the environment, education, and care.
As Political Leader of the City of London Corporation, the Policy Chairman acts as a principal spokesperson and advocate for London as a global financial and professional services capital. Financial and professional services drive the UK economy, generating over £85bn in economic output annually, contributing 12% in total tax revenue to the UK government.
As Policy Chairman, Chris steers the development and delivery of the City Corporation’s priorities through the work of the Policy and Resources Committee which oversees the provision of local government services for our 8,600 residents and over 600,000 workers based in the Square Mile. Beyond our remit for financial and professional services, the City Corporation is the UK’s fourth biggest funder of culture, is the primary sponsor of the renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama, is principal supporter of the Barbican Centre, Europe’s largest cultural space, and is leading the £397 million redevelopment of the London Museum.
In a career spanning more than four decades, Chris has founded, led, and expanded companies across the UK and globally in a range of industries – including aviation, publishing, B2B business development and construction. He has balanced his professional responsibilities with a commitment to public service, engaging in British politics at both the local and national level since early adulthood. He is a former Deputy Leader of Hertfordshire and Dorset County Councils and was first elected to Common Council of the City of London Corporation in March 2013. He has previously served as Chairman of the City Corporation’s Planning & Transportation Committee and as Sheriff of the City of London from 2019 – 2021. He continues to serve as a Non-Executive Director working with companies focused on property, infrastructure, civil-engineering, and planning.
