Businessman Ken Olisa Named ‘Most Influential Black Briton’

Businessman Ken Olisa has been named the most influential black Briton on the Powerlist 2016 – the annual list of the 100 most powerful people of African and African Caribbean heritage in Britain.

As Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, Olisa is tasked with supporting the Royal Family and advancing social inclusion in the capital.

The 64-year-old businessman, who was also the first black Briton to serve as a director at a FTSE 100 company with Thomson Reuters, will receive the Powerlist 2016 award at a ceremony at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum on Monday night.

Olisa beat funnyman Lenny Henry, Ofcom boss Sharon White, 12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen and F1 champ World champion Lewis Hamilton to the award.

Campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered teenager Stephen, also features in this year’s top 10.

Previous Powerlist winners include architect David Adjaye and former Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman.

Powerlist 2016 publisher Michael Eboda said: “I am delighted to salute the truly inspirational men and women in this year’s magazine.

“Ken is a wonderful role model who highlights the exceptional talent in black communities.”

Double Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah was even further back in the field, finishing eighth on the list which is picked by a panel of independent judges.

While listening to Ken,“I do a lot of calming down in the moments before their arrival,” he explains. “People tend to get very wound up and stressed.” Not so Olisa, who is as cool as the proverbial cucumber, even when wearing the heavy military-style uniform of the Lord Lieutenant.