About me
Background
Jani Levänen MStJ FRSA (48) - I grew up in Helsinki, and moved to London after reading Finance and Marketing as a double degree at the University of Lincoln (UK) and Mercuria Business School (Finland). I am still working and strongly involved in the business community and have a long standing international career in the field of commercial effectiveness in many well-known global companies - Getty Images, Ticketmaster, Iron Mountain and most recently at Peach/IMD Media where I am Global Vice President for Sales Operations.
Having current experience and knowledge from technology start ups and established multinational corporations provides a wide ranging profile for me as your councillor.
I was elected a Fellow of Royal Society of Arts in 2013 and have a keen interest in sharing knowledge and networking in order to help young people and start-ups.
City & Education
I am voter in the ward of Farringdon Within, and passionate about the City and was excited to be granted Freedom of the City in 2009 and have been closely involved with the City ever since. I am a Liveryman and a Court Assistant of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers in the City of London. Our beautiful, historic hall is located in the heart of Farringdon Within ward on Ave Maria Lane.
I serve as the Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of Leigh Stationers' Academy and Primary Academy and also serve as the Chair of the Stationers’ Academy Support Committee, the link between Stationers’ Company and the Academy for non-education support such as student grants, their mentoring program, extra curricular projects and combined cadet force unit.
Additionally, to stay in touch with the wider City community, I am member of the Farringdon Ward Club, The Gresham Society, the Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce and the City Livery Club.
Charity
I am a long serving volunteer of St John Ambulance and currently hold the national leadership position as National Operational Cycling Lead and oversee the emergency response cycling nationally for St John Ambulance in England. The late Queen Elizabeth II awarded me MStJ for my services in 2019.
I am a Trustee of the Thomas Wall Trust that is a charitable foundation that awards grants for individuals for education and training to increase their chances of employment, and grants for small charities that support this work.
Additionally I serve as a trustee for Stationers' Charity Fund 1961 that awards grants for wide ranging causes, mostly related to the City of London (such as St Paul’s, St Brides, City Police widows fund, Royal Marines) and civic appeals including Lord Mayor’s appeal.
I am also the current President of the Hospitallers' Club.
Relax
Outside work I enjoy the wide cultural offerings in London, from art galleries to theatre. To balance my love of dining, I enjoy staying fit with help of gym and outdoor pursuits that vary from mountain treks to scuba diving.