Background
Graduated from the University of Technology in Wrocław, Faculty of Environmental Engineering; gained a PhD in economics at Wrocław University of Economics.
He is a main shareholder of five companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange: Getin Holding, Getin Noble Bank, LC Corp, MW Trade and Open Finance.
In 1986, his passion for cave diving led him to join with a few college friends to set up a commercial diving firm—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 biggest leasing company in Poland, gaining a listing on the London Stock Exchange in 2000. In 2001 he sold the firm to Credit Agricole for PLN 900 million, and became the CEO of Credit Agricole Poland. At this time he was also managing other group’s companies, such as EFL S.A., Lukas S.A., Lukas Bank, TU Europa and Getin Service Provider S.A.
In 1993–1995 he was the deputy Chairman of Supervisory Board, and later the CEO of Polbank S.A. (GMAC Bank). In the years 1996-1997 Leszek Czarnecki was the Chairman of Supervisory Board of insurance company Europa S.A, and in 1997 he became the CEO of Europa for the next two years.
In 2002-2003 he was the CEO and managing director responsible for leasing and insurance of Credit Agricole Poland. Until the end of November 2004 he was the CEO of Getin Holding S.A, and till May 2006 CEO of Getin Bank S.A. Since June 2007 he has been the Chairman of Getin Holding’s Supervisory Board and a member of Supervisory Boards of other companies belonging to the group. From September 2006 to March 2007, and since April 2008 he has been the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of LC Corp. After the merger of Getin Bank with Noble Bank (January 2010) he is the Chairman of Supervisory Board of Getin Noble Bank. Under his leadership, Getin Holding has acquired stakes in companies operating in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Czarnecki has promoted a dynamic business culture in his organization by handpicking executives who share his business philosophy.
He purchased Poltegor Centre in 2005-2006, built in the mid-1970s in the city centre of Wrocław, and at that time the city’s tallest building. Czarnecki, along with the investor LC Corp, has built Sky Tower, which is the tallest skyscraper in Poland.
Read more about this topic: Leszek Czarnecki
Famous quotes containing the word background:
“Pilate with his question “What is truth?” is gladly trotted out these days as an advocate of Christ, so as to arouse the suspicion that everything known and knowable is an illusion and to erect the cross upon that gruesome background of the impossibility of knowledge.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“In the true sense one’s native land, with its background of tradition, early impressions, reminiscences and other things dear to one, is not enough to make sensitive human beings feel at home.”
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940)
“I had many problems in my conduct of the office being contrasted with President Kennedy’s conduct in the office, with my manner of dealing with things and his manner, with my accent and his accent, with my background and his background. He was a great public hero, and anything I did that someone didn’t approve of, they would always feel that President Kennedy wouldn’t have done that.”
—Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908–1973)