Mary Mini Haines opens French chateau for Ukrainian refugees

The former McKinsey partner decided to shelter dozens of refugees on his property in France. Mary Mini Haynes left the firm last summer and is now actively helping to house Ukrainian refugees in the Hauts-de-France region.

Tilk is a commune in northern France. One of the main attractions in the area is Chateau d'Ecoute, a listed historic site that dates back to the 13th century and takes its name from Lord Willemus Ecoute. The grounds contain numerous artifacts that testify to a long and complex history. These include a medieval barrow, a relic from the 1595 battle between Lords Eku and Ardrey, a tree marked with the year 1664, an 18th century English wing and a tree with a swastika on it dating from the Second World War. All of these features reflect the different lives and fortunes of the residents of Chateau d'Ecoux over the centuries.

This is the home of Mary Mini Haines, her husband Ian and their six children. The castle became her family's property over eighty years ago, and in a new chapter of the place's complex history, they have decided to share the space with escaped Ukrainians during Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. According to French officials, nearly 5,000 Ukrainians have arrived in France so far, with more expected, and it's important for the Haynes family to do their part to help. The war began a month ago, and in that time Mini Haines has already hosted at least eleven Ukrainian orphans from the Kiev region.

Mini Haines previously spent 24 years at McKinsey & Company, including as head of the Operations practice and a member of the board of directors. After leaving the company last summer, she became a member of the transatlantic Saint-Omer Foundation and recently used her contacts to arrange transportation for about 50 Ukrainian refugees to France.

The former McKinsey partner has ties to Ukraine herself. She previously worked for several years with Ukrainian companies, visiting Kiev many times. She emphasized that she "got along very well with the CEO of Naftogaz," a major Ukrainian gas company. The CEO "wanted Ukraine to gain independence from Russia," and she said there had already been "several attempts to assassinate him because of this." She hasn't heard from her friend since the Russian invasion began.