Michael de Giorgio – Co-Founder and Chief Executive
Mike spent 19 years as an accountant before selling his financial consulting business after he ran a successful pilot multisports scheme with the Metropolitan Police for young offenders. He decided to start a new charity and together with Justin Byam Shaw, he founded Greenhouse in 2002. He continues to be involved full-time. In 2011, Mike chaired the Centre for Social Justice’s report on how best to harness the power of sport to transform the lives of young people. He has played sport all his life, but is now picking up tips from Greenhouse players.
Justin Byam Shaw – Co-Founder
Justin is currently Deputy Chairman of Independent Print ltd, owners of the Independent and the Evening Standard. After graduating from Oxford in classics, Justin set up and ran security solutions provider Legion Group. In 2002, he co-founded Greenhouse with Mike, and he remains actively involved. He is also an investor and entrepreneur in the new media sector.
Jeffrey Berman – Chairman
Jeff started his career as a director of London’s Waddington Galleries, a leading contemporary art gallery, before transferring in 1993 to the fund management industry. In addition to chairing Greenhouse he now divides his time between investing in private companies and pursuing philanthropic interests. He is currently serving his second term as a member of the TATE Modern Council.
Penny Linnett
Penny worked for 15 years in the City in the sphere of corporate finance and corporate broking, latterly as a director of the corporate broking arm of Smith New Court PLC before it was acquired by Merrill Lynch in 1995. Following the birth of her two (sports mad) sons, she put her career on hold, but enjoys active involvement with Greenhouse.
David Meller
David is joint chairman of the Meller Group, one of the largest luxury home and beauty suppliers in the UK. Formerly vice-chairman of Watford F.C, he now concentrates on educational ventures and is sponsor of the Harefield and Bushey Academies.
Sangita Patel
Currently Community Relations Manager for the London 2012 Olympics, Sangita has 10 years experience in community and youth engagement initiatives. She is a published researcher, consultant and policy advisor on sports based social interventions for the Home Office, Sport England and others. She has also led a team of young women volunteers in Indonesia delivering environmental projects.
Emmanuel Roman
Emmanuel is Chief Operating Officer of Man Group, an investment management business. Among his many altruistic endeavours he is known for his support of the Tate, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in its cancer research, several charities fighting AIDS in Africa and The Centre of Cold War Studies at The London School of Economics.
Michael Sherwood
Michael is Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs Group and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs International. Michael is also a sponsor of the Harefield Academy, chairman of the Development Committee at Westminster School and a trustee of the Mayor’s Fund for London.