Sir Lenny Henry also recognised with Lifetime Achievement Award
Ian Thomas CBE, Chief Executive of the City of London Corporation, has been named as the most influential Black person in Britain by the Powerlist 2027. Legendary comedian and philanthropist Sir Lenny Henry has been recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
The annual list, now on its 21st edition, recognises the most powerful people of African, African Caribbean, and African American heritage in the UK and has shone a light on leaders and trailblazers who have had an impact by breaking barriers, redefining success, and inspiring future generations.
Ian Thomas CBE is the 51st Town Clerk and Chief Executive of the City of London Corporation, and the first Black person to lead the Square Mile’s governing body in its more than 900-year history. A respected public-service leader with over 30 years’ experience in local government, he was appointed in 2023 and leads around 5,000 staff as principal adviser to elected Members. His remit extends beyond that of a conventional local authority, encompassing the City of London Police, 11,000 acres of open spaces including Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath, and advocacy for the UK’s financial and professional services sector. The sector contributes more than £110 billion annually in tax revenues and supports approximately 2.5 million jobs nationwide. He chairs the executive leadership team, aligning the Corporation’s diverse functions and priorities.
Previously, Thomas was Chief Executive of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, where he oversaw excellent public services and a £1.2 billion regeneration programme. He was appointed CBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to local government and children’s services, recognising his leadership in Rotherham after the child sexual exploitation scandal. As Strategic Director for Children and Young People, he helped lead the council’s recovery and restore confidence in safeguarding services locally.
He replaces last year’s number one, Afua Kyei, the Bank of England’s Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director and is joined on this year’s list by President and CEO of the International Crisis Group, Comfort Ero – who takes second place.
Thomas said: ‘When I started my journey in public service, I never thought that I’d be recognised in this way. I’m a true believer that none of us succeeds alone, so I see this less as a personal accolade and more as recognition of the people, teams and communities who have shaped and supported me throughout my life.
“With recognition comes responsibility and I believe that if this recognition helps someone believe that they belong in those rooms, then it has real value. We should absolutely celebrate Black achievement and representation at the highest levels should become normal rather than novel.”
Professor Grace Ononiwu CBE, Director General of Legal Delivery at Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is a newcomer to the Powerlist and takes the third spot. While entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den investor Steven Bartlett, and actor, filmmaker, and philanthropist Sir Idris Elba OBE also feature in the top 10 alongside Pamela Maynard, Chief AI Transformation Officer Microsoft MCAPS, Emma Grede CEO and Co-Founder, Good American, Founding Partner, SKIMS and Ije Nwokorie, Chief Executive Officer, Dr Martens.
This year Sir Lenny Henry received the JPMorgan Chase Lifetime Achievement Award from the Powerlist judges for his outstanding contribution to British culture and society. The beloved comedian and actor has been entertaining British audiences since the 1970s and founded the charity Comic Relief in the 1980s. Comic Relief and the Red Nose Day appeal continue to be a prominent annual fundraising event and has raised over £1.6 Billion since its inception in 1985.
The full Powerlist 2027 Top 10 is as follows:
- Ian Thomas CBE, Town Clerk & Chief Executive @ City of London Corporation
- Comfort Ero, President & CEO, International Crisis Group
- Professor Grace Ononiwu CBE, Director General of Legal Delivery, Crown Prosecution Service
- Emma Grede, CEO and Co-Founder Good American; Founding Partner, SKIMS
- Pamela Maynard, Chief AI Transformation Officer Microsoft MCAPS
- Steven Bartlett, Entrepreneur and Dragon, Dragons’ Den
- Josh Siaw MBE, Partner, White & Case
- Sir Idris Elba, Actor, Filmmaker, Philanthropist; Chairman, IE7 and Akuna Group
- Ije Nwokorie, Chief Executive Officer, Dr Martens PLC
- Air Vice-Marshal Ola Fashade, Director of Strategy and Military Digitalisation within Defence Digital at the UK Ministry of Defence
Other Award winners included:
- Top Boy actor Ashley Walters won the Paramount Entertainer Award
- Former Director of Community Engagement to King Charles III, Eva Omaghomi CVO was honoured with the PwC Purpose Award
- VP of Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning at GSK AI Dr Danielle Belgrave received the Meta Technology, AI & Innovation Award
- CEO of St James’s Place Justin Onuekwusi was awarded the ELC Executive of the Year Award
- Here We Flo Ltd won BP Business of the Year Award.
- MD of Bank of America Yvonne Ike won the Mastercard Excellence in Financial Services Award
- Kola Karim, Chairman of Shoreline Group won the London Stock Exchange Group Global Leader Award.
Newcomers on the Powerlist 2027, in partnership with HSBC, Platinum Sponsor JPMorgan Chase and Gold Sponsor PwC, include rapper Dave, Paralympian Kadeena Cox OBE, Turner Prize winning artist Nnena Kalu, Wally Adeyemo – Group Head of Strategy and Transformation, Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility, Barclays, and number 10 on the list, Air Vice-Marshal Ola Fashade – Director of Strategy and Military Digitalisation, Defence Digital, Ministry of Defence.
The Powerlist has become Britain’s pre-eminent celebration of Black talent in Britain, having been launched in 2006 by Powerful Media Ltd to celebrate and highlight the achievements of inspirational and influential people of African, African Caribbean, and African American heritage in the UK. What began as an annual publication has, over the past 21 years, evolved into a powerful platform that not only recognises and honours excellence across a wide range of sectors, but also plays a pivotal role in reshaping narratives, influencing perceptions, and inspiring future generations of leaders.
This year’s Powerlistees were honoured on Friday 30th October at the Powerlist Gala Awards at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, Park Lane, hosted by entrepreneur and advocate of inclusive leadership and advisor to Lord Sugar on The Apprentice, Tim Campbell MBE.
Sir Lewis Hamilton, Edward Enninful OBE, Karen Blackett CBE, and Dame Sharon White are just a few of the high-profile names to have been awarded the coveted title as Powerlist Number One over the years.
Michael Eboda, CEO of Powerful Media Ltd, publishers of the Powerlist said: “The purpose of the Powerlist has never changed. It exists to show young people of African and African-Caribbean heritage what is possible, in fields they might never have considered but which are accessible. Twenty-one editions on, the evidence of possibility is broader than ever: in boardrooms, in public office, in the Square Mile and in uniform.
“Talent exists in every community, and the Powerlist provides an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the exceptional talent within Britain’s Black community. We extend our congratulations to all the people in our top 100 and our award winners and thank our partners HSBC and sponsors JPMorgan Chase and PwC for their continued support.”
Craig Cuffie, Group Chief Procurement Officer at HSBC said: “It is a privilege for HSBC to celebrate this year’s honourees and the exceptional contribution they make to Britain. Their achievements span industries, institutions and communities, reflecting the depth of Black talent and the influence of Black leadership on our shared future.
At HSBC, we recognise the contribution that ambition, enterprise and fresh thinking make to economic growth and society. The individuals celebrated in the Powerlist embody these qualities, turning ideas into action and using their expertise to create lasting value. Their success enriches the organisations they lead and the communities they serve. Our support for the Powerlist reflects our commitment to recognising excellence and helping create opportunities for the next generation.”
Judging criteria for the Powerlist is based on its definition of influence: “The ability to positively alter events and change lives as demonstrated over a reasonable period of time.” The previous year’s winner is automatically entered into the Hall of Fame.
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Notes to Editors
1. The Powerlist 2027 and Celebration of Black Excellence Awards took place on Friday October 30th, 2026, Grosvenor House, 86-90 Park Lane, London.
Established in 2006 by Powerful Media Ltd, the Powerlist was created to celebrate and shine a light on the UK’s most inspirational and influential people of African, African Caribbean, and African American heritage. Over 21 years the Powerlist has grown into a vital platform that not only recognises Black excellence across sectors but also helps to reframe narratives, influence perceptions, and empower the next generation of leaders.
2. Judging
Entrants were judged on their “ability to change lives and alter events, as demonstrated over a protracted period of time and in a positive manner”.
An independent panel of judges selected the Powerlist 2027.
The full Powerlist 2027 judging panel consisted of:
- Dr. Jacky Wright, NED, Tech Exec, most recently Sr. Partner and Chief Technology Officer for McKinsey (Chair)
- Adenike Adenitire, Director of Editorial, Powerful Media Ltd
- Shauna Roper – Chief of Staff, Global Procurement, HSBC
- Alwin Swales – Partner, PwC UK
- Sonia Meggie – Talent Delivery, Bloomberg
- David Ziyambi – Partner, Latham & Watkins
- Tim Campbell – Business Entrepreneur
Judges for the Powerlist Awards and Honourees consisted of:
- Dr Heather Melville OBE, CCMI – Senior managing director of Teneo and chancellor of the University of York (Chair)
- Daniel Taylor MBE, FRSA, CEO Founder @MDC Group
- Ijeoma Okoli -Senior Fellow at Harvard University Kennedy School’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center
3. Previous Powerlist number ones, now inducted into the Hall of Fame, include prominent figures such as Afua Kyei, the Bank of England’s Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director, CEO of Forterro, Dean Forbes; former Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue, Edward Enninful OBE; former John Lewis Chair, Dame Sharon White; campaigner Gina Miller; Sir Damon Buffini; former Children’s Laureate, Malorie Blackman; philanthropist, Sir Mo Ibrahim; Former CEO of Group M UK, Karen Blackett OBE; entrepreneur, educational philanthropist and Chairperson of the Rugby Football Union, Tom Ilube; former Credit Suisse CEO and Executive Chairman of Freedom Acquisition Corp, Tidjane Thiam; diplomat, barrister and politician, Baroness Scotland; Founder and Co-Chair of Tristan Capital Partners, Ric Lewis; Founder and Chairman of WorldRemit, Ismail Ahmed; seven-time Formula One World Champion, Sir Lewis Hamilton; and Senior Partner and Chief Technology and Platform Officer at McKinsey, and former Corporate Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Microsoft US, Jacky Wright.
4. The Powerlist was launched in 2006 to showcase black role models to young people. It is now regarded as the leading authority on issues of black influence.
5. The Powerlist is open to Black Britons wherever they live in the world and to anyone in the UK who is of African, African Caribbean and African American heritage.
6.Politicians and the Powerlist. Why there are no parliamentary politicians in the Powerlist:
In 2024’s judging session, it was resolved that the Powerlist would no longer include parliamentary politicians in its annual rankings.
The Powerlist has proudly upheld a non-partisan and apolitical ethos since its inception. It never, for example, asks any of the nominees about their political leanings, and they are not judged on that basis either.
The decision to exclude parliamentary politicians from the Powerlist marks a significant shift in the list’s trajectory and reflects the evolving challenges posed by the political landscape and underscores the Powerlist’s unwavering commitment to its mission of recognising and celebrating excellence within black communities free from the constraints of political biases and affiliations.
The Powerlist 2027 by Sector
Newcomers marked by *
Finance, Banking & Investment
*Wally Adeyemo – Group Head of Strategy and Transformation, Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility, Barclays
Tosin Akinluyi – Managing Director and Head of EMEA Macro Research, Morgan Stanley
*Rene Awambeng – Founder and Managing Partner, Premier Invest
*Benyam Hagos – Chief Financial Officer, Form3; Chairman and Non-Executive Director, Trust Payments
Tokunboh Ishmael – Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Alitheia Capital
* Darren Johnson – Global Chief Operating Officer, Impax Asset Management
* Nicholas Joseph – Managing Director, EMEA Head of Financial Crime Compliance and UK MLRO, State Street
Dawid Konotey-Ahulu CBE – Co-Founder, Redington, Mallowstreet and 10,000 Interns Foundation
Gavin Lewis – Managing Director, Head of UK and Ireland Institutional, BlackRock
Eros Marshall – Head of UK Financial Institutions; Europe and UK Asset Management, Corporate Banking, Banking and International, Citigroup
Monica Meade – Global Head of Audit, Mastercard
Justin Onuekwusi – Chief Executive Officer, Investments, St. James’s Place
Georgia Wilson – Founder and CFO/COO, Value Creation CFO
* Carlos Treadway – Executive Vice President, International, Ford Credit
Kokou Agbo-Bloua, Managing Director and Global Head of Research, Global Markets, Société Générale
Technology & Digital Platforms
Kojo Boakye – Vice President of Public Policy for Africa, Middle East and Turkey, Meta
Sheniece Charway – Head of Black Music and Culture, EMEA, YouTube
Safiya Lambie-Knight – Head of Music Partnerships, Spotify UK, Ireland, Nordics and Netherlands
Pamela Maynard OBE – Chief AI Transformation Officer, Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions
Alex Okosi – Managing Director, Google Africa
*Dr Olusola ‘Sola’ Idowu – Founder and CEO, HexisLab
Media, Journalism & Broadcasting
Dominic Carter – Executive Vice President and Publisher, The Sun
* Clive Myrie – Broadcaster and journalist
Debbie Ramsay – Editor, 5 News
*Jacqueline Simmons – Senior Executive Editor, EMEA, Bloomberg News
Koby ‘Post’ Hagan – Founder and CEO, GRM Daily
Anne Mensah – Vice President, UK Content, Netflix
Claudia Osei-Nsafoah – Chief People Officer, Sky
Film, TV, Music & Performing Arts
Sir Idris Elba – Actor, filmmaker, entrepreneur and humanitarian
Cynthia Erivo – Actress, singer and author
Damson Idris – Actor and producer
* Dave – Rapper, singer, songwriter and producer; actor
Andrew ‘Rapman’ Onwubolu MBE – Rapper, writer, director and producer
DJ AG – DJ and broadcaster
Stormzy – Musician, entrepreneur and philanthropist
Percelle Ascott & Joivan Wade – Co-Founders, Wall of Entertainment
Cassa Pancho OBE – Founder, Artistic Director and CEO, Ballet Black
*Sharmaine Lovegrove – Co-Director and Agent, International Dialogue Creative Agency
Creators & Influencers
Patricia Bright – Digital creator and entrepreneur
KSI – Influencer, musician and entrepreneur
Steven Bartlett – Entrepreneur, speaker, investor, author and host of The Diary of a CEO; co-founder of FlightStory
Visual Arts, Design, Literature & Culture
*Dr Hassan Aliyu – Artist and curator
Hurvin Anderson – Artist
Gus Casely-Hayford OBE – Director, V&A East
*Nnena Kalu – Artist and Turner Prize winner
Samuel Ross MBE – Designer and artist
Hayden Williams – Fashion illustrator and designer
Alex Dauley – Interior designer and creative director; Founder, Dauley Design; Co-Founder, United in Design and AEVEN
Bernardine Evaristo – Writer; Professor of Creative Writing, Brunel University London
Fashion, Beauty & Retail
Emma Grede – Co-Founder and CEO, Good American; founding partner, SKIMS; Co-Founder, Off Season
Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe – Founder, Melissa’s Wardrobe and LE LUXE
Ije Nwokorie – Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Martens
Casyo ‘Krept’ Johnson BEM – CEO and Founder, Nala’s Baby
Law & Justice
Harry Matovu KC – Barrister, 25 Bedford Row
Baroness Barbara Mills KC – Baroness Mills of Greenwich KC; Joint Head of Chambers, 4PB
Jacqueline McKenzie – Partner, Leigh Day
Segun Osuntokun – Global Senior Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Sandra Paul – Partner, Kingsley Napley
*Laurie-Anne Power KC – Barrister, 25 Bedford Row
Sandra Wallace CBE – Co-Global Managing Partner, DLA Piper
*Professor Grace Ononiwu CBE – Director General of Legal Delivery, Crown Prosecution Service
Health, Medicine & Life Sciences
Gisela Abbam – Chair, General Pharmaceutical Council; Senior Director, Government Affairs, Revvity
Dr Sylvia Bartley – Chief of Staff, Strategy and Transformation, Morehouse School of Medicine
Professor Kevin Fenton CBE – Regional Director for London, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities; Regional Director of Public Health, NHS London
*Halita Obineche – Chief Executive Officer, Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Miss Joy Odili – Consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon
*Professor Bola Owolabi CBE – Chief Inspector of Primary Care and Community Services, Care Quality Commission
*Professor Faye Ruddock DL – Founding Chair, Caribbean and African Health Network
Miss Samantha Tross – Consultant orthopaedic surgeon
Academia & Research
Professor Paul Goodwin – Chair of Contemporary Art and Urbanism, University of the Arts London
Professor Patricia Kingori – Professor of Global Health Ethics, University of Oxford
*Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu DBE – President, Wolfson College, Cambridge; Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience, UCL; Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Nanomerics
Government, Public Sector, Defence & Diplomacy
* Air Vice-Marshal Ola Fashade – Director of Strategy and Military Digitalisation, Defence Digital, Ministry of Defence
* Major-General Karl Harris CBE – Director, Project Anthony, British Army
*James Kariuki CMG – Chargé d’Affaires, UK Mission to the United Nations
*Althea Loderick – Chief Executive, London Borough of Southwark
Ian Thomas CBE – Town Clerk and Chief Executive, City of London Corporation
Charity, Non-profit & Social Impact
*Awo Ablo – President, Programs and Strategy, Co-Impact
Dr Comfort Ero CMG – President and CEO, Crisis Group
Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE – CEO and Co-Founder, STEMettes
Professional Services, Consulting & Advisory
Belton Flournoy – Managing Director, Protiviti Technology Consulting
Lisa Smith – Senior Partner, Kearney
Joshua Siaw MBE – Partner and Director, Africa Practice
Vanessa Kingori – Growth and Transformation Leader, Vanessa Kingori Consulting
*Najoh Tita-Reid – Global Growth Executive, Transformation Architect, Brand and AI Leader
Bolaji Sofoluwe MBE – Managing Director, Enterprise Trade and Knowledge Group
Yemi Edun – Founder and CEO, Daniel Ford International
Advertising, Marketing & Communications
Magnus Djaba – Chief Client Officer, Publicis Groupe
Eva Omaghomi – CEO, Forster Jones & Associates and Brand63Africa; Community Engagement Adviser to The King
*Jade Guishard – Head of PR and Influencer Relations for Corporate and Beauty, Louis Vuitton
Energy, Industry, Property & Built Environment
*Emeka Emembolu – Executive Vice President, Technology, bp
Funmi Adegoke – CEO, Safety Technologies, Halma
* Lamé Verre CEnv FISEP FEI – Director of Net Zero, The Crown Estate
* Dr Valerie Vaughan-Dick MBE – Chief Executive, Royal Institute of British Architects
Frank Okoisor – Executive Chairman, Toyota Connected Europe
Entrepreneurs & Business Founders
Glyn Aikins – Co-President, RCA UK; Founder, Since ‘93
Riki Bleau – Founder and Co-President, Since ‘93; CEO, Since ‘93 Group
Antoine Dixon-Bellot – Entrepreneur
Dr Raphael Sofoluke – Founder and CEO, UK Black Business Show
Tevin Tobun – CEO, GV Group and ROUTD
Sport
* Kadeena Cox OBE – Paralympian
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