Nigerian-born Ken Olisa beats Lewis Hamilton as the most influential black Briton

Posted by: b3rrilyn in News Nov 24, 2015

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 Afro-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.

All of this is a very long way indeed from his humble beginnings in Nottingham, where he was brought up in straitened circumstances by his single mother (he never knew his father, who left them to return to Nigeria when he was young).

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

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.”