Przemysław Krych

Przemysław Tomasz Krych (born 1966) is a Polish entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and anti-communist opposition activist.

Biography
During his high school and university years he was involved with anti-communist opposition - supporting Solidarity - as activist of both: Independent Youth Movement as well as Independent Students' Association. In 1989 took part in student strike. Upon Independent Students' Association being legalized he was elected as Chairman of Audit Committee at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. Graduated (summa cum laude) from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań Faculty of Law and Administration, where - then - worked as assistant professor. In 1993 passed barrister exam and was appointed to the Bar at the District Chamber in Poznań.

In 2001 he founded Cornerstone Partners (currently Cornerstone Investment Management) and in 2006 – Griffin Real Estate (currently Griffin Capital Partners ). Prior to founding Cornerstone Investment Management he worked as Emerging Europe Private Equity Funds Managing Director at Franklin Templeton Investments, and earlier at Bank Handlowy (currently Citi Handlowy), among others - as: Head of the Investment Committee, Member of the Credit Committee i Member of the Management Committee.

He was detained on December 17, 2017, and then temporarily arrested after the decision of the 4th Criminal Division of the Katowice-Wschód District Court on charges of paying bribes to a senator PiS Stanisław Kogut, in the form of donations - provided by third parties - to the Foundation for Disabled Persons in Stróże. On September 23, 2019, he gave an interview to Bloomberg Businessweek, in which he talked about the behind-the-scenes of the arrest. July 1, 2021, in an interview for Onet.pl mentioned the former spokesman of PiS – Adam Hofman, who, after Krych was released, offered him a meeting with Zbigniew Ziobro (at that time the Minister of Justice) and his wife Patrycja Kotecka to "clarify the situation". Another person mentioned by Krych in the interview was Krzysztof Porowski – a businessman from Sosnowiec, once accused of extortion of 5 mln PLN from the Social Insurance Institution and the corruption of the vice-president of the Katowice District Court. Before Krych's arrest, he offered to "solve the problem" for a bribe of EUR 1.5 million, and during Krych's arrest, he also offered Krych's business partner, his release for the same amount. Porowski claimed that he represents a person high in the hierarchy of the secret services. On July 4, 2021, during the first press conference after returning from Brussels, Donald Tusk mentioned the lack of reaction of the prosecutor's office and the Minister of Justice to the specific situations provided by Krych.

His arrest by the CBA and 6-month detention in 2018 were described in numerous publications as one of the most significant abuses of power against entrepreneurs by the prosecutor's office under the leadership of Zbigniew Ziobro. The case was described, among others: in the book "The Hunt - how business is destroyed in Poland" by Helena Kowalik-Ciemińska and Szymon Krawiec - editor in Wprost, and in the report "Punishing philanthropy in Poland: the case of Przemysław Krych" by Open Dialogue Foundation - as well as - in the report of the Open Dialog Foundation and  Judges Association "Themis" on the politicization of the Polish prosecutor's office in 2015-2023. The case was also mentioned as one of three examples of persecution of entrepreneurs in Poland in the written declaration Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from April 2023, where it was written: "The persecution of entrepreneurs such as Piotr Osiecki and Przemysław Krych, and recently the president of the entrepreneurs' organization Maciej Witucki continues. Actions against them, including security raids, arbitrary detentions and criminal charges, not only harm individual entrepreneurs but also foster a hostile environment for entrepreneurship and investment.".

May 6, 2020 in Telewizja Polska Wiadomości broadcast a material entitled "Who finances Hołownia's (about:Szymon Hołownia) campaign", for which this broadcaster was sued. On March 21, 2023, the program's editors apologized to Przemysław Krych for stating that he was a person "involved in suspicious dealings" and his business activities "raised huge doubts".

In February 2024, his case was included - alongside 10 other entrepreneurs and former managers of companies related to State Treasury of Poland - in an appeal from non-governmental circles calling Attorney General Adam Bodnar for "a review of politically motivated prosecutorial proceedings in 2015-2023 and the rehabilitation of the victims." The appeal was signed by 35 non-governmental organizations and 43 public figures from the world of science, culture and politics, including: former president Lech Wałęsa, Leszek Balcerowicz, Władysław Frasyniuk, Agnieszka Holland, Michał Boni, Zbigniew Hołdys, Krystyna Janda, Tomasz Lis, Hanna Machińska, Marcin Matczak, Janina Ochojska, Wojciech Sadurski, Kuba Sienkiewicz and Andrzej Zoll.

During the European Economic Congress on 7-9 May 2024 was invited as a speaker to the panel: How an unprofessional and oppressive system deals with business. In 'Rule of law and business'. May 8, 2024 - Puls Biznesu published an article "How temporary will temporary detentions be", in which it describes what changes Adam Bodnar announced in the use of temporary detention. Entrepreneurs appreciate the direction, but not their scope. The article includes Przemysław Krychs opinion from the European Economic Congress panel.

Philanthropic activities
Philanthropic activities include supporting the following foundations and initiatives:
 * Educational Foundation of Jan Karski,
 * Media Liberation Fund,
 * Gazeta Wyborcza Foundation Investigative Journalism Program,
 * Stowarzyszenie Ruch Młodzieży Niezależnej (Independent Youth Movement Association),
 * Open Dialogue Foundation.
 * Ewangelickie Towarzystwo Oświatowe,
 * Fundacja Pomocy Osobom Niepełnosprawnym,
 * Fundacja Griffin ArtSpace.

Awards

 * Forbes Poland Business Leaders Ranking 2022,
 * Forbes Poland Business Leaders Ranking 2016,
 * Forbes Poland Business Leaders Ranking 2015,


 * Lifetime achievement award by Prime Property Prize 2015,
 * Personality of the Year Propertynews.pl 2014.

Decorations

 * June 2023 – Pro Patria Medal (Poland) awarded to mark special merit in strengthening and treasuring the memory of the Polish people's fight for the independence of the Polish Republic,
 * June 2023 – Medal for the 40th anniversary of the Independent Youth Movement,
 * November 2022 – Honorary badge of Anti-communist activist or a person repressed for political reasons,
 * May 2022 – Cross of Freedom and Solidarity.

Board memberships
Currently:


 * Chairman: Ecowipes, Okechamp.


 * Member: ProService, LuxVet Group.

Past:


 * Chairman: Hortex, Hydroprojekt, LuxMed, Griffin Premium Real Estate, Relax Wind Parks, Spravia.


 * Deputy Chairman: Cementownia Chełm, Polimex-Mostostal.


 * Member: Eastbridge, Bank Handlowy International, Echo Investments, Echo Polska Properties, Avenga, Bombardier Transportation (Rail Engineering), E-toto, Synergia 99