The top 100 black Brits have been named in a list compiled by publishing company Powerlist Foundation.
The list, consists of famous African Caribbean faces, as well as individuals from various sectors including business, media and sport.
Top of the list is chief executive of MediaCom, Karen Blackett (OBE) who rose to the top of her field despite working in an industry dominated by white men.
“I still think it’s odd that I’m the only senior black woman in the advertising industry,” she told The Telegraph. “I was at a Marketing Society event earlier this year, where Justin King was honoured as a Fellow. In the room there were a handful of women and two people of colour. I was one of them.”
Blackett, as well as several other named individuals were hosted by the London Mayor Boris Johnson, at a black tie event at his home where Home Secretary Theresa May also gave a speech.
Blackett came up head of some of Britain’s most famous black faces, including Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, heartthrob actor Idris Elba and Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Ummuna.
The black powerlist, which was first created in 2007 by Powerlist Foundation CEO Michael Eboda, aims to help improve diversity in all sectors, particularly within the FTSE 100.
“In this day and age there is no excuse to not have adequate representation of diversity on FTSE 100 Boards,” Eboda told The Voice Newspaper. “Executive search firms should be doing a much better job, but it is up to the companies themselves to ensure that this happens.”.
Top 10 influential black brits
- Karen Blackett – CEO, MediaCom UK
- Ken Olisa – Chairman, Restoration Partners; Non-Executive Chairman, Outsourcery Plc
3. (Joint) Chuka Umunna – Shadow Business Secretary; Helen Grant – Minister for Sport and Tourism
4. Sandie Okoro – Global General Council, HSBC Global Asset Management
5. Steve McQueen – Artist/Director
6. Matthew Ryder QC – Barrister
7. Sharon White – Second Permanent Secretary of the Treasury
8. (Joint) Lenny Henry – Comedian, actor, writer; Idris Elba – actor, producer
9. Adrian Joseph – Director, search advertising Northern & Central Europe, Google
10. Lewis Hamilton – Formula 1 driver, Mercedes
