The UK’s 10 Most Outstanding Black Achievers in 2024

From fashion to finance, from politics to technology, these are the people who are shaping the future of the UK and beyond. In this article, we will introduce you to the top 10 names on the Powerlist 2024

Powerful Media’s Powerlist 2024 celebrates the black trailblazers who shape the UK’s diverse landscape. From politics to arts, from sports to science, the judges honor those who leave a lasting mark and inspire positive change. 

At the pinnacle of the list stands Edward Enninful, the visionary who revolutionized British Vogue. A son of Ghana and a child of London, Enninful has been weaving wonders in the world of fashion for three decades. 

He ascended to the throne of i-D magazine at 18, the youngest king of a major fashion realm. He then conquered the lands of Italian and American Vogue, before breaking barriers as the first black man to rule British Vogue in 2017.

How Edward Enninful Diversified British Vogue

Enninful is widely praised for his efforts to diversify the magazine, both in terms of its content and its staff. He has championed the representation of women of color, LGBTQ+ people, and different body types on the cover and in the pages of Vogue. 

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He has also used his platform to advocate for social justice causes, such as Black Lives Matter, gender equality, and environmental sustainability.

Some of his notable achievements include:

• Launching the Forces for Change issue in September 2019, guest-edited by Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, featuring 15 women who are breaking barriers and making a difference in the world.

• Creating the Hope issue in September 2020, featuring 20 global activists and frontline workers who are fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic and racial injustice.

• Appointing the first black female editor of British Vogue’s website, Jessica Diner in October 2020.

• Winning the Editor of the Year award at the British Society of Magazine Editors Awards in November 2020.

• Collaborating with Lizzo, Naomi Campbell, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and Beyoncé for some of the most iconic and best-selling covers of British Vogue.

Enninful, who announced his departure from British Vogue in June, will become Vogue’s global creative and cultural adviser, as well as an editorial adviser at British Vogue. His successor will be Chioma Nnadi, who is the editor of Vogue’s US edition website.

The Other Black Achievers Who Made the Top 10

Here are the other black achievers who made the top 10 list:

• Dean Forbes, the chief executive of Forterro, a global provider of enterprise resource planning software, and a partner at Corten Capital, a private equity firm. He is also a mentor and supporter of young black talent in the tech sector.

• Afua Kyei, chief financial officer of the Bank of England. Kyei, who was born in Ghana and grew up in London, is the first woman and the first person of color to hold this role at the central bank.

• Marvin Rees, the mayor of Bristol. Rees, who was born in Bristol to a Jamaican father and a white British mother, is the first directly elected black mayor in Europe. He was re-elected for a second term in May 2021, with a record-breaking majority of over 40,000 votes.

• Tunde Olanrewaju, senior partner and managing partner of McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm. Olanrewaju, who was born in Nigeria and moved to the UK as a teenager, is one of the most senior black executives in the UK.

• Joshua Siaw, MBE, a partner at White & Case, a global law firm, and the founder and chair of the Africa Legal Network, a platform for lawyers and business leaders with an interest in Africa.

• Syreeta Brown, the group chief people and communications officer at Virgin Money UK, a leading financial services provider, and the chair of the board of trustees at the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, a charity that supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

• Paulette Simpson, CBE, the executive of corporate affairs and public policy at Jamaica National Bank, the largest building society in the Caribbean, and the executive director of The Voice Media Group, the publisher of The Voice, Britain’s leading black newspaper.

• Vanessa Kingori is a Kenyan-born British media executive who leads the business operations of Condé Nast Britain and advises Vogue Europe. She is also the first woman and the first person of color to be the publishing director of British Vogue.

• Simon Woolley is a British politician and activist who founded and directs Operation Black Vote, a campaign group that promotes racial equality and civic engagement. He is also a crossbench member of the House of Lords.

Conclusion: The UK’s Most Influential Black People in 2024

These are just some of the inspiring and influential black people who are making a positive impact in the UK and beyond. 

They are role models for the next generation of black leaders, who will continue to shape the future of this country and the world.

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