Board of Directors | Global Dignity

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Meet Our Leadership

Board of Directors

The individuals on our Board are united by a deep commitment to values of tolerance, understanding, compassion, justice and equality. Each member of our Board brings ideas, energy and connections to strengthen Global Dignity’s work. Many of our Board members also lead Global Dignity activities in their home countries.

Founder

Dr. Pekka Himanen

Founder

Pekka Himanen is one of the internationally best-known researchers of the Information Age whose works have been translated into 20 languages from Americas to Asia. He is a Co-Founder of Global Dignity. For more, see www.pekkahimanen.net.

Officers

John B. Osborn

President

John Osborn is CEO of OMD USA based in New York City. He joined OMD after serving for over twelve years as President and Chief Executive Officer of BBDO New York, which he joined in 1991. John has been actively involved with many of the agency’s clients including FedEx, GE, Sony, Lowe’s, Monster and Mars. He began his BBDO career with Pepsi and was the principal architect of the agency’s integrated marketing efforts, expanding the agency’s service offerings to include digital marketing, direct, CRM, custom-publishing and more.

John was named President and CEO of BBDO New York in February 2004. In January 2006, BBDO was named “Agency of the Year” by all of the leading trade publications (Ad Age, Adweek and Campaign).

John has served as a Board member with a number of nonprofits, including the “New York Miracle” campaign, which helped lift the spirits of New Yorkers in the wake of the September 11 attacks. He is President of the Board of Directors of the Red Cross, New York Region and the Police Athletic League of New York. He serves on the Boards of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the New York Chapter of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s) and the Dartmouth College Alumni Club of New York City. He’s an active supporter of New York University’s Child Studies Center as well as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, for whom he has served as a mentor to Cory Collins for eleven years.

In recognition of his accomplishments, in 2003 John was inducted into the AAF Hall of Achievement, which honors people 40 years of age or under for their contributions to business. He has also been named to the Crain’s New York Business list of “40 under 40” as well as BtoB magazine’s “Who’s Who in BtoB.” In 2006, John was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. John earned his BA at Dartmouth, is married to Lesley and is the proud father of a daughter, Caroline and a son, John Jr.

Matthias Bosch

Treasurer and Country Chair for Germany

Matthias Bosch is a founding partner of the intellectual property law firm Bosch Jehle in Munich. Over the years, his practice has expanded into various fields of intellectual property and focuses now on complex patent litigation in the tech industry. He holds a mechanical engineering degree as well as a Ph.D. in patent law from the Max Planck Institute.

After retiring from his law practice in 2020, Matthias enrolled at the Harvard Kennedy School for an executive education certificate for non-profit organizations. Since January 2021, Matthias functions as the Executive Coordinator for Global Dignity, Inc.

His career has provided him with the opportunity to travel the world working with colleagues and companies in various countries. This experience has shown him that while many people do live dignified lives, teaching dignity in all its various forms is still needed worldwide, as well as in Germany. When we recognize what we have in common rather than focusing on our differences, each of us can make a positive, meaningful impact. Matthias’ goal is to bring Global Dignity's teachings in some form into German businesses and schools to build a stronger and more stable society.

Danielle Willett

Secretary

Danielle Willett is a marketing strategist with over 15 years of invaluable experience leading multi-million-dollar advertising campaigns for esteemed Fortune 500 companies, Public Corporations, and Global Creative Agencies, including the likes of BBDO NY, Hill Holliday, P&G, Gillette, Verizon, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Macy’s, Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us.

Dedicated to profound cause, Danielle currently holds the esteemed position of US Associate Director at Ad Net Zero, a non-profit organization at the forefront of a transformative mission. Her role involves spearheading efforts to empower the entire global advertising industry to significantly reduce its carbon footprint in the development, production and execution of advertising campaigns, ultimately striving for real net zero.

Her unwavering passion and relentless focus in crafting strategies that unite people around a common good brought her to Global Dignity. She was appointed our Board Secretary in Spring 2023. In this capacity, she provides invaluable support to the Founder and Executive Director, Pekka Himanen.

Board Members

GANHUYAG CHULUUN HUTAGT

Board Member and Former Country Chair for Mongolia

Ganhuyag is a Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ard Financial Group, an investment holding company.

Ganhuyag started his career at the Mongolian Stock Exchange as a floor supervisor in 1991. He joined the Central Bank’s supervision division after graduating from the Budapest University of Economic Sciences in 1997. He was hired by UNDP’s MicroStart Pilot Project in 1998, and went on to found Mongolia’s first non-bank financial company X.A.C. in 1999 which was transformed into XacBank and Tenger Financial Group in 2001.

Ganhuyag Hutagt has served as the honorary consul of Hungary in Mongolia since 2006 and was appointed as advisor to Prime Minister of Mongolia on development and economic issues in 2009. He served as Vice Minister of Finance of Mongolia in 2010-2012. He served on the Board of the Microfinance Center in CEE and CA in 2008-2010 and Global Agenda Council (GAC) on social entrepreneurship of Schwab Foundation in 2009. In 2009 he was nominated to the Forum of Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum. In 2010 he was chosen as president of the Mongolian Students Union. Ganhuyag is also a founding member of the Mongolia Economic Forum and currently chairs the CEO Club of Mongolia.

Cindy Godwin

Board Member and Country Chair for the United Kingdom

Throughout her career, Cindy has worked with visionary leaders on exciting transformations in professional services firms and educational institutions. She is currently Head of Social Responsibility at AlixPartners, the global management consulting firm and, through the firm’s membership of the World Economic Forum, served on the Global Future Council on Systemic Inequalities & Social Cohesion and is currently the Global Future Council on Equity & Social Justice.

Cindy joined Global Dignity as our UK Country Chair in 2020, and was appointed to Global Dignity’s Board in 2021. Alongside fellow Board members Matthias Bosch and Giovanna Mingarelli, she is co-leading development of a new pillar: Dignity in the Workplace. Our goal is to support company employees in becoming dignity ambassadors and becoming high-level inclusive leaders, by inspiring young people to put dignity into action in schools and community-based youth groups. If you are interested in getting involved, please be in touch.

Born a first-generation Italian-American, Cindy studied in the US, France and the UK. She has lived over half her life in London with her British husband. Passionate about creating partnerships with brave people and projects which break new ground, through work and love of learning, Cindy has travelled to over 65 countries, observing the challenges and opportunities for deeper education between generations to improve cultural inclusion and integration. Prior to joining Global Dignity, Cindy was on the Board of Global Kids, a not-for-profit organization that empowers and inspires youths in Houston, New York and Washington DC to reach university and develop as leaders in their communities and around the world.

Runa Khan

Board Member and Country Chair for Bangladesh

Runa Khan is the Founder of Friendship, an International Social Purpose Organization established in 2002. In Bangladesh, a country facing humanity’s most pressing challenges, Friendship helps transform lives by working together with vulnerable people in the remotest communities. It brings direct services to over 7 million lives a year. While nurturing opportunity, dignity and hope, Friendship’s strategy focusses on four vital challenges: Saving Lives, Poverty Alleviation, Climate Adaptation and Empowerment. Over the years, Friendship has developed integrate inclusive development model in the north of Bangladesh, on the costal belt as well as in the Rohingya camps with health, water and sanitation, and educational services.

She is the Founder and co-chair of Friendship International which operates from five European countries, building an improved understanding and stronger relationship between resource providers and beneficiaries, advocating new concepts of working together as a Global Team supporting and believing in Friendship’s actions, concepts, ideas and providing valuable affiliations and linkages, and providing financial and nonfinancial support. Her work is based on empathy, respect, and deep sense of justice and replicable innovation.

Runa Khan is an advocate of climate change and human rights, women empowerment, leadership, and importance of nurturing human values and gives talks at international conferences and Universities. She received numerous awards among which: Green Award by Positive Planet Foundation (2016), Social Innovation Leadership Award by the World CSR Congress (2014), Social Entrepreneur Award, IDB for contribution toward Women in development (2008), Rolex Awards for Entrepreneurship (2006), an Ashoka fellow and a Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur.

She is also a board member of Global Dignity, on the Advisory Council of British Asian Trust, Strategic Advisor of BIC Corporate Foundation, Honorary President of the One Sustainable Health Forum Approach, and an Honorary Trustee of Duke of Edinburgh Award Bangladesh.

Beatrix Morath

Board Member

Beatrix Morath is Managing Director and Country Head, Switzerland of AlixPartners. AlixPartners is an advisory company that works on matters of high and strategic importance, including issues that materially affect the future of organizations, often in situations of extreme pressure and high stakes. Beatrix has been active with Global Dignity for over five years and serves on several for-profit and nonprofit Boards.

Juan José Nieto

Board Member and Country Chair for Spain

Juan José started his career in London at Goldman Sachs in 1990 as Financial Analyst in Mergers and Acquisitions. He joined Bankers Trust (now Deutsche Bank) between 1992-1997, ultimately as Vice President and Head of Mergers and Acquisitions for Spain and Portugal.

He joined Telefonica in Madrid as General Manager Ventures and Alliances in 1997. Promoted to CEO of Antena 3 TV (now Atresmedia), he accomplished a successful turnaround between 1997-2000. Between 2000-2002 Juan served as Telefonica Media’s CEO. Other positions held include Non-Executive Chairman of Via Digital (now Movistar+), Non-Executive Director of Onda Cero Radio, Endemol and Pearson´s Recoletos, and member of Telefonica’s Executive Committee.

Between 2002-2012 Juan was chairman of Service Point, where he led a successful build-up strategy to create one of the largest European Digital Printing groups. He was Non-Executive co-founding Partner of financial services firm Arcano in 2003, Non-Executive Chairman between 2005-2008 and Chairman of Arcano Capital between 2006-2013. Since 2015, he has served as Founding Chairman and CEO of NK5, a leading investment and turnaround financial services group. From 2016-2018 he was Executive Chairman of Grupo Baux, one of Spain's leading aluminum producers and part of the NK5 portfolio.

Juan has extensive non-executive director and audit and nominations committee experience in a range of sectors. He has been part of CVC’s European Advisory Committee, ESADE Business School, Dorna-Moto GP, Noatum Ports, Grupo La Información and Uralita. Currently he is Lead Independent Director and Chairman of the Audit & Compliance committee of OHL, Non-Executive Director at Banco Sabadell and Cerberus´ real estate business - Promontoria Challenger - and VBARE Real Estate Socimi. He is a member of Banco Sabadell Este and Havas Media Group Advisory Boards. Juan was Senior Advisor at Anchorage Capital between 2012-2016 and currently Director of their real estate investments in Spain and Portugal.

Juan is the Founder of Fundación AYO – Accelerating Youth Opportunities – a social accelerator and venture philanthropy focusing on underprivileged youngsters for education, training, and employment. He serves on the International Board of Directors and as Country Chair - Spain for Global Dignity, social initiative co-founded by HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway. He was elected Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

Juan is a Business Administration Graduate by ICADE, attended the London Business School (Finance Program) and Stanford University (Advanced Management Course).

Jacek Olechowski

Board Member and Country Chair for Poland

Jacek Olechowski is a private investor focused on media. Businesses in which he is involved include: Change Integrated, CEE’s largest and most awarded independent marketing group, EMLab SA, a publicly listed experiential marketing company and Rankomat.pl – Poland’s first direct insurance aggregator. He sits on the supervisory boards of two other public companies: Kolastyna SA and Internity SA (luxury retail.) Jacek is the Polish Vice-President of the International Advertising Association, where he helped launch the industry’s first CSR programme and is a Judge on the Advertising Ethics Committee.

He is a Vice-President of the Polish Business Roundtable, Poland’s most select business association and a member of the Young Presidents Organization. He is a recipient of Newsweek’s Keep Walking award (2007). Jacek holds an MA from the Warsaw School of Economics.