Jacky Wright of Microsoft, Marcus Rashford of Manchester United, Netflix’s Anne Mensah, Hollywood star Daniel Kaluuya and Bafta winner Michaela Coel are all named in The Powerlist 2022
Tech pioneer Jacky Wright and footballer Marcus Rashford have been named the UK’s most influential black figures.
The Powerlist 2022 – the annual list of the UK’s most powerful people of African, African Caribbean and African American heritage – honours standout men and women across business, science, technology and the arts.
Launched in 2007 to showcase black role models to young people, it is now regarded as the leading authority on issues of black influence.
Jacky, chief digital officer and corporate vice president at Microsoft US, was given the top spot by a panel of judges, led by retired High Court judge Dame Linda Dobbs.
Transformational leader Jacky Wright bags top spot ( Image: Microsoft)
Marcus Rashford takes second place to add to his honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester ( Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
Michael Eboda, CEO of Powerful Media, which published The Powerlist 2022, said Jacky was a “shining example of professional excellence”.
The Powerlist Black Excellence Awards will be held in London tonight, Here’s the top 10…
(And keep scrolling for the full Powerlist 2022, the extensive annual list of the UK’s most influential black people, across multiple sectors.)
1. Jacky Wright, Chief Digital Officer & Corporate Vice President, Microsoft US
A global and transformational digital leader, Jacky is a passionate advocate for women and people from minority ethnic backgrounds.
From Tottenham, North London, she has spent much of her career in the US.
She sits on several high powered boards in the UK.
Jacky said: “I am proud to be in the company of these great leaders of African and African Caribbean heritage.
“Each of us has a responsibility to ensure that we not only showcase role models, we need to make shifts to create a more equitable society.”
2. Marcus Rashford, Footballer and children’s campaigner
As well as playing for Manchester United and England, Marcus, 23, has used his huge platform to push for social change.
He played a crucial role in the Government’s decision last year to provide free school meals to children through the summer holidays.
Hero Marcus in action for England ( Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The sports star, who himself received free school meals as a youngster, was awarded an MBE last year for his services to children through the pandemic.
He also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester last week.
3. Anne Mensah, Vice-president of Content UK, Netflix
Before taking up her role at Netflix, Anne, who grew up in South London, worked in senior positions at Sky UK and the BBC.
She has commissioned huge shows including Wallander which stars Kenneth Branagh and Sky / HBO Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning drama Chernobyl.
Anne Mensah helps TV giant Netflix take the crown ( Image: REUTERS)DON’T MISS
Anne, who studied at Exeter University as well as UCLA in Los Angeles, California, also sits on the Board of ScreenSkills, a UK charity dedicated to training in the TV and film sector.
4. Daniel Kaluuya, Actor
Starting his career in improvisational theatre Daniel Kaluuya, who grew up in Camden, North London, also appeared in TV drama Skins.
His breakthrough movie moment came in 2017 with horror film Get Out.
Londoner Daniel Kaluuya is one of Hollywood’s biggest rising stars ( Image: Getty Images)
He then won a BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2018.
The 32-year-old also starred in blockbuster Black Panther and won an Oscar earlier this year for Best Supporting Actor in the drama Judas and the Black Messiah.
5. Prof Kevin Fenton, London Regional Director, Public Health England
Since the pandemic began, Prof Kevin Fenton, who was born in Scotland in 1966 and grew up in Jamaica, has been at the heart of London’s public health response to Covid-19.
Taking on the job in April 2020 he has been tireless in investigating its devastating impact on black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.
Professor Kevin Fenton is a medical doctor, academic and public health specialist ( Image: University of Bath)
He was director of the US National Center for HIV/AIDS.
6. Steven Bartlett, Founder & former CEO, Social Chain, also Dragon
Dragon’s Den newcomer Steven founded social media marketing agency Social Chain from his bedroom in Manchester at just 21 years old after dropping out of university.
The company went on to be a phenomenal success, and Steven, who was born in Botswana, left his role as CEO last year.
Steven Bartlett has the power of a dragon ( Image: PA)
The entrepreneur, 29, is the youngest ever Dragon to join the BBC show.
7. Michaela Coel, Actor
Michaela Coel, 34, grew up in Tower Hamlets, London.
She studied English at university before graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2021.
Michaela Coel has won a string of awards ( Image: Getty Images)
As well as success on stage, the actress, screenwriter, director and producer penned and starred in E4’s Chewing Gum before her rape-recovery drama I May Destroy You on the BBC, which she wrote and starred in, became one of the standout TV series of 2020, winning a string of awards including BAFTAS and an Emmy.
8. Lord Simon Woolley, Principal, Homerton College, Cambridge University and Co-founder/Director, Operation Black Vote
Earlier this month Lord Woolley, who grew up in Leicester, became the first black man to be elected as head 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.”
Lord Simon Woolley achieved a first ( Image: PA)
The cross-party peer, who received a knighthood for his services to race equality, is co-founder of Operation Black Vote, which aims to inspire BME communities to engage with our public institutions to address inequalities.
9. Richard Iferenta, Partner, KPMG
One of the UK’s top financial experts, Richard Iferenta joined the board of business campaign group London First earlier this year.
He will work with leaders in the city to help London bounce back in a post-pandemic, post-Brexit world.
You can bank on financial expert Richard Iferenta ( Image: KPMG)
He is a major advocate for mentoring and coaching young black people and set up the Black Leaders Network.
10. Jacqui McKenzie, Specialist Windrush solicitor, partner at Leigh Day
Jacqueline has spent much of her career championing the rights of the Windrush generation.
Jacqui Mckenzie stands up for the rights of victims ( Image: Internet Unknown)
In December 2020, she gave evidence to the Parliamentary Home Affairs Committee, saying it was “shameful” that victims were waiting so long for compensation.
The Powerlist 2022 Top 10 (ranked)
Jacky Wright – Chief Digital Officer (CDO) and Corporate Vice President, Microsoft US
Marcus Rashford – Footballer and children’s campaigner
Anne Mensah – Vice-president of Content UK, Netflix
Daniel Kaluuya (New) – Actor
Professor Kevin Fenton – London Regional Director, Public Health England
Steven Bartlett (New) – Founder & former CEO, Social Chain, Dragon on Dragon’s Den
Michaela Coel – Actor
Lord Simon Woolley – Principal, Homerton College, Cambridge University and Co-founder/Director, Operation Black Vote
Richard Iferenta – Partner, KPMG
Jacqueline McKenzie – Partner, Leigh Day Solicitors
The full 2022 Powerlistees (not ranked)
Arts, Fashion and Design
Chi-chi Nwanoku, OBE Founder, Chineke! Foundation
Duro Olowu Fashion Designer
Dr Shirley J Thompson, OBE Composer, Conductor & Reader in Music, University of Westminster
Dame Pat McGrath, DBE Founder, Pat McGrath Labs, Make-up artist
Lynette Yiadom- Boakye Artist
Francesca Hayward Principal Dancer, Royal Ballet
Grace Wales-Bonner Fashion Designer
Sir Frank Bowling (New) Artist
Business, Corporate, Financiers & Entrepreneurs
Alan Smith Global Head of Risk Strategy and Chief of Staff, Global Risk, HSBC
Camille Drummond Senior Vice President Global Business Services, BP
Eric Collins Founding Member, Impact X Capital Partners and host of The Money Maker on Channel 4
Jason Black Co-founder of Crep Protect and Co-Owner of Crepe and Cones
Pamela Hutchinson Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Bloomberg
Netsai Mangwende Chief Financial Officer, UK, Group M
Tevin Tobun CEO, GV Group (Gate Ventures)
Yvonne Ike Managing Director and Head of Sub Saharan Africa region, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Paulette Rowe CEO, Integrated and eCommerce Solutions, Paysafe
Roni Savage Chartered Engineer, Founder of Jomas Associates
Dean Forbes CEO, Forterro
Dame Sharon White Chairman, John Lewis Partnership
Adrian Joseph Managing Director, Group AI and Data Solutions, BT Group
Femi Bamisaiye CIO, UK General Insurance, Aviva
Yemi Edun Managing Director and Founder of Daniel Ford International and Daniel Ford & Co
Emeka Emembolu Senior Vice President – North Sea at BP
Tunde Olanrewaju Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
Donya Rose (New) MD, Managing Director, Chief Transformation Office, Deutsche Bank
Nathalie Villette (New) Group Head of Global Corporates and UK Country Head, Ecobank
Sambacor N’Diaye (New) Managing Director, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
John Odada Green (New) Head of Board and Board Committees, BP
John McCalla-Leacy (New) Partner, KPMG
Media, Publishing & Entertainment
Akala Educator, Rapper, Poet, Activist
Edward Enninful, OBE Editor-in-chief, British Vogue
Amma Asante, MBE Writer, Director, and Chancellor at Norwich University of the Arts
Charlene White ITN News Anchor and host of Loose Women
Lorna Clarke BBC, Controller of Pop Music
Marcus Ryder Head of External Consultancies Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity
Paulette Simpson Executive, Corporate Affairs and Public Policy, Jamaica National Bank; Executive Director, The Voice Media Group
Reggie Yates Broadcaster, actor, television presenter and radio DJ
Sir Lenny Henry Actor, Writer, Campaigner
Vanessa Kingori, MBE Publisher, British Vogue
Bernardine Evaristo Author
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, MBE Actor, campaigner, Act For Change
John Boyega Actor
Idris Elba, OBE Actor
Afua Hirsch Journalist, Author, Broadcaster
Stormzy Grime Artist
David Olusoga Historian; Joint Creative Director of Uplands Television Ltd, broadcaster, presenter and film-maker
Alex Scott MBE (New) Presenter – Match of the Day
Politics, Law & Religion
David Lammy, MP Shadow Lord Chancellor of the UK, MP for Tottenham
Dr Sandie Okoro Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel, World Bank
Joshua Siaw, MBE Partner at White & Case
Tom Shropshire General Counsel & Company Secretary, Diageo plc
The Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin British Anglican bishop (Bishop of Dover)
Segun Osuntokun Managing Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Harry Matovu, QC Barrister and Queen’s Counsel
Marcia Willis-Stewart, QC (Hon) Managing Partner, Birnberg Peirce & Partner
I. Stephanie Boyce Deputy Vice-President of the Law Society of England and Wales
Patrick Vernon Social commentator, Windrush campaigner and cultural historian
Kwasi Kwarteng (New) Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Sandra Wallace UK Managing Partner, DLA Piper, Social Mobility Commissioner
Public, Third Sector & Education
Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford, CBE Lawyer, Shakespeare’s Globe; Chancellor, Coventry University; Non-Executive Director, Co-op Group
Marvin Rees Mayor of Bristol
Nira Chamberlain Professional Mathematician, Principal Consultant at SNC-Lavalin, Babcock International Group;
Professor Funmi Olonisakin Vice-President and Vice-Principal International and
Professor of Security, Leadership and Development at King’s College London
Sonita Alleyne, OBE Master, Jesus College, Cambridge
Professor Patricia Daley Vice Principal at Jesus College Oxford
Dr Patrick Roach General Secretary at NASUWT
Miatta Fahnbulleh (New) Chief Exec, New Economics Foundation
Munroe Bergdorf (New) Model and Social Activist
Science, Medicine & Engineering
Dr Emeka Okaro Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Bart Health NHS Trust
Dr Ian Nnatu Consultant Psychiatrist
Dr Joy Odili Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Dr Sylvia Bartley Senior Global Director, Medtronic Philanthropy, Author
Samantha Tross Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Professor Jacqueline Dunkley Bent, OBE Chief Midwifery Officer, NHS England
Martin Griffiths Lead trauma surgeon, Royal London & Clinical Director for Violence Reduction, NHS
Dr Paula Franklin Chief Medical Officer at Bupa Group
Dr Jacqui Dyer President of the Mental Health Foundation
Sports
Anthony Joshua, British professional boxer and two-time world heavyweight champion
Dina Asher-Smith British record-holding sprinter
Raheem Sterling, Manchester City Footballer
Maro Itoje Rugby Player/Activist
Technology
Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon, MBE CEO and Co-Founder, STEMettes
Ebele Okobi Public Policy Director, Africa, the Middle East & Turkey, Facebook