The Powerlist is a list of the 100 most influential people of African or African Caribbean heritage in the United Kingdom. The list is updated annually and has been published in book format by Powerful Media since 2007. The Powerlist is not limited to British-born citizens and includes immigrants to the UK.
History and methodology The list was first created in 2007 by Michael Eboda, then editor of the New Nation, a weekly newspaper published in the UK for the Black British community, as a way to profile and celebrate influential Black Britons, and inspire and influence the next generation. The first Powerlist was compiled after six months of research and debate, during which period 400 people of influence were whittled down to 50 women and 50 men, then ranked into respective top 10s, with the results announced in August 2007. During the first few editions, separate top-10 rankings were produced for both female and male candidates and top-ranking individuals could continue to be ranked the following year. From 2012, the 50 highest-rated nominees, along with updates on the previous year's Powerlistees from rank 2–100, are then ranked by an independent panel in the summer, with the list being produced each autumn. Each year's highest-ranking individual is added to the Powerlist Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame A list of every Powerlist highest ranking individual. Year Portrait Name Occupation Category Notability2026Afua KyeiFinancial executiveBusiness, Corporate, Financiers & EntrepreneursCFO, Bank of England2025 Dean Forbes Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs CEO, Forterro and Partner at Corten Capital2024 Edward Enninful, OBEEditorMedia, Publishing & Entertainment Former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, European editorial director of Condé Nast 2023 Dame Sharon White Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Chair of the John Lewis Partnership, the British employee-owned retailer 2022 Jacky Wright Businessperson Technology Chief digital officer at Microsoft 2021 Sir Lewis Hamilton, MBE Formula 1 Driver Sports Seven-time World Champion Formula One driver 2020 Ismail Ahmed Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs founder & chairman of WorldRemit 2019 Ric Lewis Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Chief Exec & Chairman of Tristan Capital Partners 2018 Gina Miller Businessperson & Activist Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Activist known for her work challenging Brexit 2017 Tom Ilube, CBE Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Founder of Crossword Cyber Security, Africa Gifted Foundation 2016 Sir Ken Olisa, OBE Businessperson & Philanthropist Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London 2015 Karen Blackett, OBE Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs CEO of MediaCom UK 2014 Malorie Blackman, OBE Author Media, Publishing & Entertainment Writer of more than 60 children's books and Children's Laureate 2013 Sir David Adjaye, OBE Architect Arts, Fashion & design Designer of the National Museum of African American History in Washington, DC 2012 Tidjane Thiam Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs CEO of Prudential plc 2011 Tidjane Thiam Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs CEO of Prudential plc 2010 Baroness Scotland Attorney General Politics, Law and Religion First Female & Black person to be Attorney General for England and Wales 2008 (Male) Dr. Mo Ibrahim Businessperson & Philanthropist Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Chairman & Founder of Mo Ibrahim Foundation 2008 (Female) Baroness Scotland Attorney General Politics, Law and Religion First Female & Black person to be Attorney General for England and Wales 2007 (Male) Sir Damon Buffini Businessperson & Philanthropist Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Private equity baron at Permira 2007 (Female) Baroness Scotland Attorney General Politics, Law and Religion First Female & Black person to be Attorney General for England and Wales
2020s 2026 Powerlist Rankings Published in October 2025, Afua Kyei, the chief financial officer of the Bank of England, was named as the UK's most influential black person for its 20th edition.
Top 10 Rank Individual Occupation Category Notability 1 Afua Kyei Financial Executive Business, Corporates, Financiers & Entrepreneurs CFO, Bank of England 2 Ian Wright MBE, OBE Footballer and pundit Media, Publishing, Entertainment, Sport Television pundit, former professional footballer 3 Dame Pat McGrath, DBE Make-up artist Arts, Fashion & Design Creative Director for Cosmetics, La Beauté Louis Vuitton 4 Pamela Maynard Technology executive Technology Chief AI Transformation Officer, Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions 5 Joshua Siaw, MBE Lawyer Law and Religion Partner, White & Case 6 Tunde Olanrewaju CBE Businessperson Business, Corporates, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Senior Partner and Managing Partner, McKinsey & Company 7 Steven Bartlett Businessperson Business, Corporates, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Entrepreneur and Dragon, Dragon’s Den 8 Emma Grede Businessperson Business, Corporates, Financiers & Entrepreneurs CEO, Co-founder, Good American 9 Sir Idris Elba, OBE Actor Media, Publishing, Entertainment, Sport Actor and rapper, Co-owner of Kiro Race Co. 10 Ije Nwokorie Businessperson Business, Corporates, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Chief Executive Officer, Dr Martens PLC
2025 Powerlist Rankings Published in October 2024, Dean Forbes, the CEO of Forterro and a Partner at Corten Capital, was named as the UK's most influential black person for its 19th edition.
Top 10 Rank Individual Occupation Category Notability 1 Dean Forbes Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs CEO, Forterro and partner at Corten Capital 2 Bernard Mensah Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs President of international, Bank of America; chief executive officer, MLI 3 Afua Kyei Financial executive Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Chief Financial Officer, Bank of England 4 Emma Grede Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Chief executive officer and Co-Founder, Good American; Founding Partner, Skims 5 Joshua Siaw, MBE Lawyer Politics, Law and Religion Partner, White & Case 6 Tunde Olanrewaju Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Senior Partner and Managing Partner, McKinsey & Company 7 Alexander and Oliver Kent-Braham Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Founders, Marshmallow 8 Adejoké Bakare Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Chef-owner, Chishuru, Michelin-starred restaurant 9 Justin Onuekwusi Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Chief investment officer, St James’s Place 10 Pamela Maynard Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Chief AI transformation officer, Microsoft
2024 Powerlist Rankings Published in October 2023, former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Edward Enninful OBE, was named as the UK's most influential black person for its 18th edition.
Top 10 Rank Individual Occupation Category Notability 1 Edward Enninful, OBE Editor Media, Publishing & Entertainment Former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, European editorial director of Condé Nast 2 Dean Forbes Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs CEO, Forterro and Partner at Corten Capital 3 Afua Kyei Financial executive Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Chief Financial Officer, Bank of England 4 Marvin Rees Politician Public, Third Sector and Education Mayor of Bristol 5 Tunde Olanrewaju Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Senior Partner and Managing Partner, McKinsey & Company 6 Joshua Siaw, MBE Lawyer Politics, Law and Religion Partner, White & Case 7 Syreeta Brown Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Group Chief People and Communications Officer, Virgin Money UK 8 Paulette Simpson, CBE Businessperson Media, Publishing and Entertainment Executive, Corporate Affairs and Public Policy, Jamaica National Bank; Executive Director, The Voice Media Group 9 Vanessa Kingori, CBE Publisher Media, Publishing and Entertainment Chief Business Officer, Condé Nast Britain, Vogue European Business Advisor 10 Simon Woolley, Baron Woolley of Woodford Politician and Activist Public, Third Sector and Education Co-founder and Director of Operation Black Vote and Principal of Homerton College, University of Cambridge
2023 Powerlist Rankings Published in October 2022, the 2023 Powerlist Top 10 was dominated by business people. Once again the panel of judges was led by retired high court judge Dame Linda Dobbs, and also included former Powerlister and winner of the first series of The Apprentice, Tim Campbell.
Top 10 Rank Individual Occupation Category Notability 1 Dame Sharon White Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Chair, John Lewis Partnership 2 Dean Forbes Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs CEO, Forterro and Partner at Corten Capital 3 Anne Mensah Businessperson Media, Publishing & Entertainment Vice-president of Content UK, Netflix 4 Tunde Olanrewaju Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Senior Partner and Managing Partner, McKinsey & Company 5 Steven Bartlett Businessperson Media, Publishing & Entertainment Founder and former CEO of Social Chain; Dragon on Dragons' Den 6 David Olusoga, OBE Historian, Writer, Broadcaster Media, Publishing and Entertainment Broadcaster & Joint Creative Director of Uplands Television Ltd 7 Simon Woolley, Baron Woolley of Woodford Politician and Activist Public, Third Sector and Education Co-founder and Director of Operation Black Vote and Principal of Homerton College, University of Cambridge 8 Paulette Simpson, CBE Businessperson Media, Publishing and Entertainment Executive, Corporate Affairs and Public Policy, Jamaica National Bank; Executive Director, The Voice Media Group 9 Richard Iferenta Businessperson Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs Partner, Vice Chair, KPMG 10 Dr. Sandie Okoro Lawyer Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs General Counsel, Standard Chartered Bank
2022 Powerlist Rankings
Published in October 2021, the panel of judges was led by retired high court judge Dame Linda Dobbs and included former Powerlister Matthew Ryder QC.
Top 10