Team
Christina Lewis - Founder
Christina Lewis is an entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, ecosystem-builder, and writer who is passionate about using creativity and perseverance to empower people to live their best lives and be a positive force in the world. She is the Founder of BFO21, a wealth management firm launching later this year, and Vice Chair of the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation. Christina is also the Executive Producer of "Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?" (WSWG), a feature film based on the life of her father, Reginald F. Lewis. That film is currently in development led by Charles King of MACRO and Franklin Leonard.
Previously, Christina was Founder and Acting CEO of Giving Gap (formerly Give Blck) a nonprofit database of Black-Founded charities which she conceptualized in June 2020 and shepherded to becoming a nationally-recognized platform that has channeled millions of dollars to Black causes and receiving major grants from Microsoft, Ford Foundation, Gates Foundation and Goldman Sachs.
Christina’s work has been featured by the Obama Whitehouse, Inc., The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, PBS, and Fortune.
In the early years of her career Christina was a professional journalist, and spent five years at the Wall Street Journal, covering design, luxury homes and commercial real estate. Her first full-time job was as a police reporter for The Stamford Advocate where she won an investigative journalism award for an in-depth report about unfair practices around police-involved car accidents.
Christina graduated from Harvard College with an A.B. in French and American History & Literature. She currently lives in Los Angeles and New York with her husband and three wonderful children.
Meredith Bowen - Chief Investment Officer
Meredith Bowen is the Chief Investment Officer for Christina Lewis’ family Office. Previously, Meredith served as a Partner at Seven Bridges, a multi-billion dollar private investment firm. Since Seven Bridges’ inception 2011, Meredith managed client investment portfolios, analyzed investments, and built best-in-class investment technology solutions. Previously, Meredith was the Co-Head of the Managed Account Platform at the Man Group. In this role, she helped define the business strategy for the North American investment platform and focused on risk management and onboarding of new clients and investment managers.
Meredith began her career in technology consulting. Prior to the Man Group, she led the consulting practice for Kurtosys, a London-based technology company that delivered client performance and analytics to hedge funds and large brokerage houses. Before Kurtosys, Meredith was a consultant for Accenture focusing primarily on investment banking and asset management clients. After college, she was a consultant at Investran, a leading private equity accounting technology firm.
Meredith Bowen was the recipient of the 2007 Women’s Bond Club Rising Star of New York award which is given to women with 5-8 years of industry experience who demonstrated leadership qualities and were expected to be future industry leaders.
She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Brown University.
Michael Hymes, CFP®, CPWA® - Managing Director and Senior Client Advisor
Michael Hymes is the Managing Director & Senior Client Advisor of BFO21, the family office of Christina Lewis, daughter of the famed financier, Reginald F. Lewis, and philanthropist Loida Lewis. Mr. Hymes is a wealth management leader and has worked as a wealth advisor with ultra-high net worth and high net worth individuals and families across the country.
Mr. Hymes started his wealth management career as an advisor at Plante Moran Financial Advisors outside of Detroit, Michigan, one of the nation’s largest independent, registered investment advisors. Here, he spent time working with business owners and other ultra-high net worth individuals diving deep into planning surrounding trusts and wealth transfer strategies, an area where Mr. Hymes has a particular interest and expertise. Mr. Hymes then moved to New York City and joined the registered investment advisor Shufro Rose & Co. as Vice President & Financial Advisor working closely with high net worth individuals. In this role, he led the financial planning offering and quarterbacked the process with clients’ outside professionals including estate attorneys, tax advisors and insurance professionals.
Mr. Hymes holds a BBA from The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. He is also a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and Certified Private Wealth Advisor® professional and serves as a Board Member of the Estate Planning Council of New York City.
Mr. Hymes lives in Manhattan with his wife Patricia and their toy poodle Ross.
Deidra Okeke - Family Office Manager
Deidra Wilson Okeke brings over 30+ years of experience in corporate finance, family offices, and management to BFO21, including working personally alongside Reginald F. Lewis.
Deidra began her career at investment bank J.P. Morgan (Morgan Guaranty Trust Company) in the European Corporate Banking Department, before becoming Reginald F. Lewis’ personal assistant and executive secretary in 1987. Deidra was at Mr. Lewis’ side supporting him throughout his historic, billion-dollar acquisition of Beatrice International Foods and the success that followed. Deidra also helped Mr. Lewis form The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, which has granted over $30 million to children’s education and community improvement causes.
Today, at Beatrice and BFO21, Deidra manages coordination, oversight, and scheduling for all team, office, and strategic stakeholder matters.
Deidra currently lives in New York City with her husband and family, and is highly active in her local community, helping to chair committees, organize events, and support important programs like holiday meals for families in need.
Delroy Wright - Senior Advisor
Delroy Wright is a Senior Advisor to BFO21, the family office of Christina Lewis, daughter of the famed financier, Reginald F. Lewis, and philanthropist Loida Lewis. Mr. Wright is an experienced financial services executive whose career spans asset management, corporate governance, business development, client relations, business strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate law.
Mr. Wright began his career practicing law at the corporate law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in its Investment Management and Mergers & Acquisitions practice areas, then worked with Credit Suisse Asset Management as M&A Advisory Counsel. Mr. Wright’s experience in private wealth management began at Bessemer Trust where he served as Vice President, Wealth Advisor, Client Relations Director, and Business Strategist. Following his tenure at Bessemer Trust, Mr. Wright joined NS US Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of Silver Swan Capital, as its Chief Operating Officer and helped the firm list a portfolio holding company on the NASDAQ in 2020.
Mr. Wright currently serves on the boards of BFO21 and Market Street Trust Company.
Mr. Wright holds a degree in Finance from The University of Western Ontario and a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law.