Paul Finnegan Explained

Paul Finnegan
Birth Name:Paul James Finnegan
Birth Place:Scituate, Massachusetts[1]
Education:Harvard University
Occupation:Investor and philanthropist
Known For:Founder and co-CEO of Madison Dearborn Partners
Treasurer of the Harvard Corporation
Spouse:Mary Finnegan

Paul James Finnegan (born 1953) is a Chicago-based investor and philanthropist. In 1992, he co-founded Madison Dearborn Partners and currently serves as the firm's co-CEO. From 2014 to 2023, served as the Treasurer of the Harvard Corporation and the Chair of the Harvard Management Company.[2] [3]

Life

Finnegan was born and raised in Massachusetts and attended Phillips Academy in Andover, graduating in 1971. He graduated from Harvard in 1975, where he was a member of the College's ski team.[4] He also attended Harvard Business School.[5]

Business career

In 1992, Finnegan co-founded Madison Dearborn. He has served as co-CEO since 2007, when fellow co-founder and then-CEO John Canning Jr. was looking to buy the Chicago Cubs.[6] [7]

Finnegan is also a director at AIA Corporation, CDW, Government Sourcing Solutions LLC, and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.[8]

He is a major donor in Illinois politics, having donated $100,000 to Rahm Emanuel's campaign for mayor in 2015[9] and another $200,000 to Emanuel's aborted run for mayor in 2019.[10]

Philanthropy and non-profit work

Through the Finnegan Family Foundation, he has donated to causes in the areas of education, youth, health, and local Chicago community.[11]

Finnegan has been a member of the Harvard Corporation since 2012, and has served as it treasurer since replacing Jim Rothenberg in 2014.[12] [13] He was on the search committee that selected Larry Bacow as the 29th President of Harvard University.[14]

Finnegan serves of the board of Teach For America and a variety of Chicago metropolitan area non-profits.[15]

Notes and References

  1. News: May 28, 2014 . Finnegan new Harvard treasurer. The Harvard Gazette . August 18, 2018.
  2. Web site: Valued Guidance and Insight . Harvard Management Company . September 10, 2018.
  3. Web site: Barakett to Become Harvard Treasurer as Finnegan Steps Down News The Harvard Crimson . 2024-05-24 . www.thecrimson.com.
  4. News: Kapos . Shia . December 11, 2015 . An after-dinner surprise from Madison Dearborn exec: $2 million . Crain's Chicago Business . August 8, 2018.
  5. Web site: Paul James Finnegan . Bloomberg . August 18, 2018.
  6. News: November 20, 2007 . Madison Dearborn Chief Steps Down . The New York Times . September 10, 2018 .
  7. News: Yerak . Becky . November 20, 2007 . Double switch for Madison . Chicago Tribune . September 10, 2018.
  8. Web site: CDW Corp.. The Wall Street Journal. April 28, 2020.
  9. News: Ruthhart . Bill . July 7, 2015 . Emanuel rakes in another $612,000 in campaign cash . Chicago Tribune . September 10, 2018.
  10. Web site: Contributions List . Illinois State Board of Elections . September 10, 2018.
  11. Web site: Paul and Mary Finnegan. 30 December 2019 .
  12. News: Clarida . Matthew Q. . May 28, 2014 . Finnegan To Replace Rothenberg as University Treasurer . The Harvard Crimson . August 8, 2018.
  13. News: Worland . Justin C. . May 24, 2012 . Finnegan Named Newest Corporation Member . The Harvard Crimson . August 8, 2018.
  14. News: Engelmayer . Caroline S. . Xie . Michael E. . February 12, 2018 . Hiding in Plain Sight . The Harvard Crimson . September 10, 2018.
  15. Web site: Paul and Mary Finnegan . Inside Philanthropy . August 18, 2018.