John Studzinski, the head of corporate advisory at Blackstone and serial philanthropist, has added to his charitable portfolio by becoming chairman of Benjamin Franklin House, the museum and education centre that focuses on the life and work of one of the founding fathers of the United States.

Studzinski, who like Franklin was born in Boston, takes over from Sir Bob Reid, who is stepping down after nine years during which he has overseen the renovation of the house in which Franklin lived in London in the 18th century.