Husband of US model who was ‘close friends with Boris Johnson’ blasts ‘leaks and innuendo’

The husband of an American model and businesswoman who is said to have enjoyed a close friendship with Boris Johnson today blasted ‘leaks and innuendo’ surrounding the story and said she has left home on a family holiday. 

Boris Johnson has faced accusations that he failed to declare potential conflicts of interest over the friendship with Jennifer Arcuri, 34, when he was London Mayor. 

But today her husband Matthew Hickey suggested the criticism was ‘baseless’ and was being promoted by political opponents.

Speaking to MailOnline about his wife, Mr Hickey added: ‘She is on vacation with family and asked for privacy. I put her on the plane myself yesterday.’

Ms Arcuri, who is said to have described Mr Johnson as ‘one of her best friends’, was given thousands of pounds in public money and privileged access to three overseas trade missions.

Jennifer Arcur, 34, posing close to her home in London in July 2013 – she was given thousands in public funds during Boris Johnson’s tenure as Mayor of London without declarations of conflict of interest, a report claims

Ms Arcuri spoke at a Tedx event in Liverpool in 2016 outlining 'why Ethical Hacking is so important in a 21st century economy'

Matthew Hickey, Ms Arcuri's husband

Ms Arcuri (left) is married to Matthew Hickey (right) and according to the Times, the pair live in California 

The pair, who have often been photographed together, were regularly seen together at her flat in Shoreditch, sources say

The pair, who have often been photographed together, were regularly seen together at her flat in Shoreditch, sources say

Jennifer Arcuri, 34, is said to have described Boris Johnson as 'one of her best friends.' Sources told the Sunday Times Ms Acuri had a dancing pole (pictured) fitted at her £2,600 a month flat in Shoreditch, East London

Jennifer Arcuri, 34, is said to have described Boris Johnson as ‘one of her best friends.’ Sources told the Sunday Times Ms Acuri had a dancing pole (pictured) fitted at her £2,600 a month flat in Shoreditch, East London

Boris Johnson's close friendship with model-turned-technology entrepreneur Jennifer Arcuri is under close scrutiny (pictured: Ms Arcuri wearing a dirndl at a tech summit)

Boris Johnson’s close friendship with model-turned-technology entrepreneur Jennifer Arcuri is under close scrutiny (pictured: Ms Arcuri wearing a dirndl at a tech summit)

Ms Arcuri pouring Mr Johnson a cup of tea at an Innotech event in London

Ms Arcuri pouring Mr Johnson a cup of tea at an Innotech event in London

Who is Jennifer Arcuri?

Before moving to the UK in 2011, Jennifer Arcuri, 34, had an entrepreneurial background and also produced a short film, ‘La Valise.’

Ms Arcuri, who now lives in California, founded Innotech in 2012. 

According to her website, it intended to ‘bridge the gap between legislation and innovative technology.’

This led to her next venture, Hacker House, which employs ‘renowned ethical hackers’ to teach cyber attack simulations to students. 

Social media photos show her spending time with the Tory top brass, including Michael Gove and Justine Greening. 

In 2016, she spoke at a Tedx event in Liverpool outlining ‘why Ethical Hacking is so important in a 21st century economy.’

She described how we could harness the ‘disgruntled youth’ and steer them away from becoming cyber criminals and into an army using their skills for good.

Ms Arcuri has since become a certified ethical hacker herself.

The Sunday Times claimed that Ms Arcuri’s fledgling business received £10,000 in sponsorship cash in 2013 from an organisation the then-mayor was responsible for. 

He also reportedly attended numerous events she arranged that promoted a company of hers. Ms Arcuri was in her late twenties at the time.

According to sources, Mr Johnson, 55, would regularly visit her top-floor flat in Shoreditch, East London.

According to the Sunday Times, Ms Arcuri was also given preferential treatment when it came to taking part in Johnson-led overseas trade missions – even though her business had reportedly not met the criteria for three trips she attended in one year.

Initial decisions to reject her for two of those missions were overturned after ‘intervention’ by Johnson and his mayoral office team, The Sunday Times claimed.

It quoted an internal email revealing how she took part in a New York trade mission after she discussed the issue with the then London mayor who was happy for her to participate.

As mayor, Mr Johnson was required to follow the Greater London Authority’s code of conduct ‘to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest’.

Ms Arcuri launched Innotech in London seven years ago and was lauded as one of the industry’s innovators, while she ‘bridged the gap between legislation and innovative technology,’ her website says.

The onetime model received a £15,000 Government grant in 2014 under the ‘Sirius Programme’ designed to encourage overseas entrepreneurs to build businesses in the UK. 

The former model's new business received £10,000 in sponsorship from an organisation which Johnson was responsible for as mayor

The former model’s new business received £10,000 in sponsorship from an organisation which Johnson was responsible for as mayor

Mr Johnson and Ms Arcuri laugh together during the 'Innotech Official Sizzle 2013' - according to the owner of the building where Ms Arcuri lived, she described Mr Johnson as one of her 'best friends'

Mr Johnson and Ms Arcuri laugh together during the ‘Innotech Official Sizzle 2013’ – according to the owner of the building where Ms Arcuri lived, she described Mr Johnson as one of her ‘best friends’

Boris Johnson's relationship with the US model and businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri has come under scrutiny

Boris Johnson’s relationship with the US model and businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri has come under scrutiny

Ms Arcuri, 34, is now living in San Francisco, according to her social media profile (Ms Arcuri poses alongside a friend in this social media post)

Ms Arcuri, 34, is now living in San Francisco, according to her social media profile (Ms Arcuri poses alongside a friend in this social media post)

Ms Arcur outside Downing Street

Ms Arcur at 10 Downing Street

Ms Arcur posing outside 10 Downing Street before Boris Johnson became Prime Minister

But in June last year, Ms Arcuri is understood to have relocated back to the US and is now living in San Francisco, according to her Twitter profile.

However, it was reported that one of her latest companies still received a grant of £100,000 from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) intended for English-based businesses earlier this year.

That grant is now being investigated by the DCMS over claims the registered company address used to apply for it is a rented house in Cheshire no longer connected to her, The Sunday Times claimed.

Mr Johnson was also said to have been instrumental in assisting Ms Arcuri’s business to get off the ground by being guest speaker four times at her Innotech networking summits for policymakers and London technology firms.

The two were photographed together, with Ms Arcuri taking to social media to praise and defend him.

Ms Arcuri takes a selfie with Michael Gove - Mr Gove is today one of Mr Johnson's key cabinet allies

Ms Arcuri takes a selfie with Michael Gove – Mr Gove is today one of Mr Johnson’s key cabinet allies

Arcuri was given £126,000 in public money as well as privileged access to three overseas trade missions which Johnson led

Arcuri was given £126,000 in public money as well as privileged access to three overseas trade missions which Johnson led

Ms Arcuri backed Mr Johnson in tweets, saying that he was an ‘amazing leader’ and giving her support to his 2012 mayoral election battle against Ken Livingstone.

She took part in Conservative campaigning and her social media photos show her smiling alongside Michael Gove and Justine Greening. 

The owner of the building where her flat was located, Chandan Daryanani, told the newspaper that Mr Johnson had been a frequent visitor.

Mr Daryanani told The Sunday Times: ‘He definitely used to come along and they were very close friends… she mentioned once he was one of her best friends.’ 

Other sources told the paper Ms Arcuri had a dancing pole fitted at her £2,600 a month flat.

Ms Arcuri was well known among the Tory top brass (pictured: Ms Arcuri poses with a bottle of red wine alongside former cabinet minister Justine Greening)

Ms Arcuri was well known among the Tory top brass (pictured: Ms Arcuri poses with a bottle of red wine alongside former cabinet minister Justine Greening)

According to sources, Mr Johnson - now 55 - was a regular visitor to her top-floor flat in Shoreditch, East London (pictured: the former model in a social media selfie)

According to sources, Mr Johnson – now 55 – was a regular visitor to her top-floor flat in Shoreditch, East London (pictured: the former model in a social media selfie)

Ms Arcuri told The Sunday Times:  'Any grants received by my companies and any trade mission I joined were purely in respect of my role as a legitimate businesswoman'

Ms Arcuri told The Sunday Times:  ‘Any grants received by my companies and any trade mission I joined were purely in respect of my role as a legitimate businesswoman’

According to The Sunday Times, Ms Arcuri did not address questions about the friendship in a statement issued to the newspaper.

But she told The Sunday Times: ‘Any grants received by my companies and any trade mission I joined were purely in respect of my role as a legitimate businesswoman.’

Ms Arcuri left London in around 2016 and was later engaged to Matthew Hickey, the Times report.

She met Mr Hickey at Hacker House, a company devoted to ethical hacking she helped set up in East London in 2014. 

The pair are now married and live together in California, according to the paper. 

Mr Hickey tweeted today: ‘Get your facts right @businessinsider it’s not @Jennifer_Arcuri company and @BorisJohnson had nothing todo with the three years of my last few I spent building up hacker.house and we have yet to receive this full from @DCMS – so far all I’ve seen is a press release.’ 

He added: ‘Tabloid news running my company through the mud today, don’t let a little thing like FACTS get in the way of a good smear piece. I reside permenantly in both the UK & USA, my business is UK based with clients in the US. Of the dozen full-time staff, I’m only one based here yet.’ 

Last night, Tory insiders said Ms Arcuri was well known in party circles during Mr Johnson’s second term as mayor between 2012 and 2016.

Before moving to the UK in 2011, Ms Arcuri had an entrepreneurial background and also produced a short film, 'La Valise'

Before moving to the UK in 2011, Ms Arcuri had an entrepreneurial background and also produced a short film, ‘La Valise’ 

Mr Arcuri speaking at a tech event in London - Mr Johnson was said to have been instrumental in assisting Ms Arcuri's business to get off the ground by being guest speaker four times at her Innotech networking summits for policymakers and London technology firms

Mr Arcuri speaking at a tech event in London – Mr Johnson was said to have been instrumental in assisting Ms Arcuri’s business to get off the ground by being guest speaker four times at her Innotech networking summits for policymakers and London technology firms

Ms Arcuri

Ms Arcuri

In June last year, Ms Arcuri (left and right) is understood to have relocated back to the US. She did not address questions about the friendship to Mr Johnson in a statement issued to the Sunday Times

However, there were also suggestions that the close relationship between the mayor and one of the leading lights of the London tech scene had raised eyebrows among colleagues.

Downing Street declined to comment. Mr Johnson served as London mayor from May 2008 until May 2016.

Mr Johnson married Marina Wheeler in 1993 and the pair separated last year.

The Mail Online has attempted to contact Ms Arcuri for comment. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk