Joshua Bekenstein | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Alma mater | Yale University (BA) Harvard University (MBA) |
| Occupation | Managing Director at Bain Capital |
| Spouse | Anita |
| Children | 5 |
Joshua Bekenstein is an American businessman and co-chairman of Bain Capital. He is recognized as a member of the Boston Billionaires Club. [1]
Bekenstein grew up in a Jewish family in New York City. [2] [3] He attended Birch Wathen School prior to its merger with Lenox School.
He attended Yale University, where he was a four year member of the men's lacrosse team. [4] In 1980, he graduated from Yale with a Bachelor of Arts. [4] In 2015, he received Yale's George H.W. Bush Lifetime of Leadership Award [4] in recognition of his involvement on the Board of Advisors of the Yale School of Management, the Yale Investment Committee, an at-large member of the University Council, the co-chair of the Yale Tomorrow Campaign, a member of the Yale Development Council, and a successor trustee of the Yale Corporation in 2013. [5]
After Yale, he attended Harvard Business School, where he received his MBA in 1984. [5]
Bekenstein worked at Bain & Company following his graduation from Yale where he worked with companies in a variety of industries. [6]
In 1984, he was hired by Bill Bain and Mitt Romney as one of the first employees of Bain Capital, the consulting firm. [1] In 1986, he became a managing director and in 2016, he was named co-chairman of the firm. [5] [7]
Bekenstein is a board member of Gymboree Corporation, Dollarama, [8] Toys "R" Us, Bombardier Recreational Products, Michaels Stores, Burlington Coat Factory, Waters Corporation, [9] Bright Horizons Family Solutions, [10] [11] and Yale University. [12] [13]
Bekenstein and his wife, Anita, live in Wayland, Massachusetts, [1] [4] and own a beachfront home on Nantucket. [1] They have five adult children. [4]
He and his wife are major donors to Democratic and liberal candidates and committees. [1] The Bekensteins made significant contributions to two super PACs supporting Joe Biden, Unite the Country and Priorities USA Action. [14] The Bekensteins pledged a total of $18,728,320 to Democratic causes, making Bekenstein the 17th largest Democratic donor of the 2020 election cycle. [15] They also operate a donor-advised fund through the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston. [3]
Bekenstein is co-chair of the board of directors of New Profit Inc., a Boston-based venture philanthropy fund [16] and as a member on the Board of Trustees of the Pan-Mass Challenge, an annual bike-athon that crosses the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to raise money for the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, [17] where Bekenstein is chairman of the board of trustees. [18] Bekenstein co-chaired Dana-Farbers “Mission Possible” campaign that hit its goal to raise $1 billion a year early in September 2009. [19] Bekenstein also chairs the board of Be The Change, is a board member of City Year, Opportunity Nation, and New Leaders. [20] He also contributes to Horizons for Homeless Children, Year Up, Teach for America, Kipp Schools, and Boston Children’s Hospital. [10] [21] [22]
In 2010, the National Association of Corporate Directors named Bekenstein Nonprofit Director of the Year. [10] [23]
Bekenstein contributed $100,000 to The Lincoln Project in June 2020.