Black Powerlist led by Vogue chief Edward Enninful, Idris Elba and Mo Gilligan
Vogue editor Edward Enninful has been named Britain’s most influential Black person in The Powerlist 2024.
The editor-in-chief of British Vogue topped the annual list of the most powerful people of African, African-Caribbean and African-American heritage in Britain. Other famous faces on the list, in partnership with JP Morgan, include Sex Education and Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa, actor Sir Lenny Henry, grime musician Stormzy and comedian Mo Gilligan, who makes his list debut.
Black Panther actor Daniel Kaluuya, YouTuber KSI, former England football captain Alex Scott, Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett and TV historian David Olusoga also feature. Edward said: “It’s incredible that it shines a light on black people really breaking boundaries, who are unafraid and champion what it means to be truly diverse in their own industries.
"So, I’m honoured, more than anything, to be a part of this family.” The Powerlistees will be celebrating in London’s The Grosvenor House Hotel tonight (27 October) at the Black Excellence Awards hosted by businessman Tim Campbell. Here are the top ten…
1) Edward Enninful OBE – Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue, European Editorial Director of Vogue
Edward, 51, is a globally renowned editor and stylist, known for his flair and keen eye for detail. Born in Ghana, he moved to London as a child and began working as a model at 16, before becoming fashion director at i-D magazine at just 18. Edward was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2016 for his services to the fashion industry, and in August 2017 he took over the helm at British Vogue. Under his leadership the publication has shaped a new vision for fashion with diversity at its core. Edward will soon be moving on to a new role as the editorial advisor of British Vogue and global creative and cultural advisor of Vogue.
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2) Dean Forbes – CEO, Forterro, Partner Corten Capital
Dean ForbesFormer footballer Dean Forbes’ first business job was in a Motorola call centre to combat the mounting debt that had left him homeless. However, many years of hard work graft has seen him rise to the top, and he has spent his career turning ailing tech firms into success stories. Dean, 45, is currently at the helm of software company Forterro and has also been recognised for his philanthropic work via his foundation, Forbes Family Group (FFG). This invests and supports young people from underrepresented backgrounds to thrive in the business world, especially ramping up efforts during the pandemic. Dean said: “I don’t feel what I do is extraordinary, to me it’s normal.”
3) Afua Kyei – Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Bank of England
Afua KyeiIn 2019, when she was just 36, Afua was appointed the bank of England’s Chief Financial Officer, making her the first black senior executive in the Bank’s 329 year history. So far in the role the CFO has had to oversee the bank’s handling of challenges including Brexit, the Covid pandemic, the September 2022 mini-budget and more. Afua, now 41, has a masters degree in Chemistry from Oxford University and was formerly the Finance Director at Barclays Bank LLC.
4) Marvin Rees – Mayor of Bristol
Marvin ReesWhen first elected Mayor of Bristol in May 2016, the city became the first in Europe to have a Black mayor. In his first term in office the former journalist oversaw the building of almost 9,000 homes and provided quality work experiences for over 3,500 children who wouldn’t readily have access. Labour politician Marvin, 51, has declared Bristol a City of Hope, built on ambition, inclusion and social justice, and the father-of-three was reelected in his role in 2021.
5) Tunde Olanrewaju - Senior Partner and Managing Partner, McKinsey & Company
Tunde Olanrewaju
Joshua SiawTunde is a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company Inc, a global management consultancy firm. He is top of his game, advising on a range of financial services, as well as strategy, operations, and culture. Based in the London office, he leads the UK Digital Practice and the European Fintech Practice. He is also a trustee for Oxfam and holds a first-class degree in electrical engineering from Imperial College London.
6) Joshua Siaw, MBE – Partner, White & Case
Lawyer Joshua is the youngest person in the top ten, at 39 years old. As a partner at firm White & Case LCC, and director of the firm’s Africa practice, Joshua, who has a degree from King’s College London, advises corporations, governments, banks and other financial institutions on cross-border project development and financial transactions in Africa. He was given an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 and earlier this year was appointed co-chair of the UK government’s Africa Investors Group (AIG).
7) Syreeta Brown – Group Chief People and Communications Officer, Virgin Money UK
Syreeta BrownSyreeta joined Virgin Money UK in 2021 as Group Chief People and Communications Officer. Prior to this the human resources wizz was at Citi, where she was managing director and Head of HR for Global Functions, Operations and Technology. Syreeta, who studied in London as well as New Jersey and Michigan, is skilled at cultural transformation and previously won the ‘Leader in Financial Services’ category at the 2018 Black British Business Awards.
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8) Paulette Simpson CBE – Executive, Corporate Affairs and Public Policy, Jamaica, National Bank; Executive Director, The Voice Media Group
Paulette Simpson was born in Britain, but raised between Jamaica and Manchester by her grandmother before studying business at the University of Sterling. She is the Executive Director of The Voice, a monthly British Afro-Caribbean newspaper founded in 1982. She is also the deputy CEO at Jamaica National’s (JN) representative office in the United Kingdom, which is Britain’s first Caribbean-owned bank. As if this wasn’t enough Paulette, who was awarded a CBE in 2021, is Deputy Chair of both the Windrush Advisory Panel and the Windrush Commemoration Committee.
Paulette Simpson
Vanessa Kingori (Copyright belongs to The Female LeadPhotography by Sane Seven www.saneseven.com)9) Vanessa Kingori - Chief Business Officer, Condé Britain, Vogue European Business Advisor
Vanessa is the chief business officer at Condé Britain and Vogue European Business Advisor. She has worked at magazine publisher Condé Nast for over a decade and was formerly the publisher of British GQ across all platforms. Vanessa also works as a youth and diversity advocate and in 2020 lead the #ShareTheMic UK campaign to showcase the successes of high-achieving Black women, with the allyship of white women who have large platforms.
10) Lord Woolley of Woodford – Co-founder, Operation Black Vote & Principal, Homerton College, Cambridge University
Sir Simon Woolley (SharronWallace.com)Lord Woolley, who received a knighthood for his services to race equality, is a cross-party peer who co-founded Operation Black Vote. The organisation’s aim is to encourage black, Asian and multi-ethnic communities to address inequalities by engaging with public institutions. He is also a trustee of Police Now, a charity that aims to recruit more diverse people into the force. In 2021, the Leicester-born academic, 61, became the first Black man of an Oxbridge college. He said: “It’s a great day... it’s historic, for me, for the college - it’s Black History month too - so I’m on cloud nine.”
Full list - not ranked
ARTS
- Hurvin Andersen: Artist
- Maximilian Davis: Creative Director, Salvatore Ferragamo
- Michael Armitage: Artist
- Sonia Boyce: Artist, Professor of Black Art and Design, University of the Arts, London
- Sir Frank Bowling Artist
- Precious Adams: Soloist, English National Ballerina
- Professor Dr Shirley Thompson, OBE: Composer, conductor and reader in music, University of Westminster
- Dame Pat McGrath, DBE: Makeup artist/Founder, Pat McGrath Labs
- Cassa Pancho, MBE: Founder, artistic director and CEO, Ballet Black
- Lubaina Himid: Artist
- Chi-chi Nwanoku CBE: Founder, Chineke! Foundation
- Grace Wales Bonner: Fashion designer
- Lynette Yiadom-Boakye: Artist
BUSINESS
- Timothy Armoo (CEO),
- Ambrose Cooke (COO)
- and Mitchell Fasanya (CTO) Fanbytes by Brainlabs
- Steven Bartlett Entrepreneur, Dragon, Dragon’s Den
- Kojo Boakye Vice President of Public Policy for Africa, Middle East and Türkiye, Meta
- Kene Ejikeme Partner, Head of Multi Asset Platform Sales and High Touch Execution in EMEA, Goldman Sachs
- Ola Fadipe Senior Director, People Experience, Google
- Eric Collins CEO and co-Founder Impact X Capital, Host of The Money Maker, Author, We Don’t Need Permission
- Yemi Edun Founder and CEO, Daniel Ford & Co and Daniel Ford International
- Emeka Emembolu Chief of Staff, BP
- Camille Drummond Senior Vice President, Global Business Services, BP
- Pamela Hutchinson, OBE Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Bloomberg
- Alexander and Oliver Kent-Braham Co-founders, Marshmallow insurance company
- Richard Iferenta Partner, Vice Chair, KPMG
- Dawid Konotey-Ahulu Co-Founder, Redington and 10000 Interns Foundation, Founder at Mallowstreet
- John McCalla-Leacy Global Head of Environment, Social & Governance, KPMG International
- Ayana McIntosh-Lee Senior Vice President and Global Head of External Affairs, BP
- Teddy Nyahasha CEO, OneFamily
- Tangy Cathleen Morgan Independent Senior Advisor, Bank of England (BoE) Prudential Regulation Committee
- Roni Savage CEO & Founder, Jomas Associates
- Merary Soto-Saunders Managing Director, Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, CVC Capital Partners
- Bolaji Sofoluwe Chairwoman of the Board, BGEN International
- Tevin Tobun CEO, ROUTD Technology and GV Group
MEDIA, PUBLISHING, ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORT
- Joivan Wade, Percelle Ascott and Tafara Makopa (Co-Founders and CEO) and Tafara Makopa (Managing Director), Wall of Entertainment
- Glyn Aikins Co-President, RCA UK and Since 93; Board of Governors, The Southbank Centre
- Riki Bleau Founder and Co-President, Since ’93
- Patricia Bright Digital Content Creator and Entrepreneur
- Lorna Clarke BBC, Director of Music
- Michaela Coel Writer & Actor
- Austin Daboh Executive Vice President UK; President of Black Music, Atlantic Records
- Idris Elba, OBE Actor & Producer
- Bernardine Evaristo Writer, Professor of Creative Writing, Brunel
- Ncuti Gatwa Actor
- Mo Gilligan
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