Professor Michael Mainelli

KStJ OMRI FCCA FCSI(Hon) FBCS; Chairman, Z/Yen Group; President, London Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Lord Mayor of London (2023/24)

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 been involved in advising and funding SMEs through all stages of growth, including several IPOs.  He is known for creating several new funding products, and has advocated a number of approaches that have led to crowdfunding, peer-to-peer, and credit exchange firms. He is Emeritus Professor of Commerce and Life Fellow of Gresham College, a Fellow of King’s College London, Birkbeck College, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and Goodenough College, visiting professor at UCL’s Bartlett School and City St George’s University of London, Honorary Bencher of Middle Temple, senior independent director of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and a listed mining company.  He is active in seventeen 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.   

Webcastings

Professor Michael Mainelli, Lord Mayor of London (2023/24), President of the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Chairman of Z/Yen Group