Jonathan Kestenbaum

Bio

Previously worked as Chief of Staff to the Chairman of Apax Partners, Sir Ronald Cohen. Together with the Chairman, built The Portland Trust which developed a $500 million fund for small and medium sized businesses in the Middle East. Early in his career, built a large family commodity trading business which was a ring dealing member of the London Metal Exchange. The company was successfully sold in a management buyout. Then moved to public service, becoming Chief Executive of the Office of the Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks. Together, they worked on a number of prize-winning publications, including the 1990 BBC Reith Lectures, The Persistence of Faith. Trustee of a number of foundations. Board member of the Design Council; the Technology Strategy Board; the Royal Shakespeare Company and Profero, a digital marketing company. Member of the Innovation Group Advisory Board at Imperial College and the Technology Advisory Board at Qinetiq. Has been an adviser to BAE Systems and was until recently Non-Executive Chairman of Quest, a large financial services firm. He is Chairman of the Manchester Science Panel and was a commissioner on the Manchester Independent Economic Review. Graduated from the LSE and Cambridge, followed by an MBA with distinction from the Cass Business School. Graduate of the Cabinet Office Top Management programme as well as the Strategic Agility programme at Harvard Business School.