On October 24, 2025, the spotlight turned to London’s Grosvenor House Hotel as the Powerlist 2026 unveiled its annual ranking of Britain’s most influential Black individuals. Topping the list this year is Afua Kyei, the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of the Bank of England, whose rise through the ranks of finance and her commitment to diversity have made her an inspiring figure for many across the UK.
The Powerlist, now in its 20th year, celebrates people of African, African Caribbean, and African American heritage who wield significant influence in the UK. According to BBC News, the Powerlist was created to provide role models for young Black people, and its founders initially worried they might run out of candidates. Yet, as Michael Eboda, CEO of Powerful Media Ltd, reflected, “What has happened over the past twenty years has exceeded anything we imagined. It has created visibility, shifted perceptions and, most importantly, shown young Black people that there is no limit to what they can achieve.”
Kyei’s journey to the top of the Powerlist is remarkable. At 43, she is one of the UK’s most senior finance leaders, overseeing the Bank of England’s £1 trillion balance sheet—a sum that swelled dramatically during the Covid pandemic. Her responsibilities stretch beyond governance; she directs the vehicle responsible for the Bank’s quantitative easing programme, a crucial tool in managing interest rates and stabilizing the economy in turbulent times. She is also at the helm of funding reforms and critical national infrastructure upgrades for payments, while championing diversity and climate disclosure within the financial sector.
But Kyei’s impact goes far beyond numbers and policy. In her own words, shared with Powerful Media, “It is an incredible honour to be named Number One on the Powerlist in its 20th year. To be recognised alongside so many extraordinary individuals, past and present, is profoundly humbling. For me, this award is not about personal achievement – it is about representation, visibility, and possibility. I am especially delighted that someone from the public sector and financial services is being recognised in this way.”
Representation is a theme Kyei returns to often. She told the BBC, “When young people see themselves reflected in spaces where they may not have imagined belonging, it changes what they believe is achievable. I hope my journey can encourage others to follow their dreams, pursue their passions, and to believe they can get to the very top.”
Kyei’s family history is itself a story of inspiration. Her parents moved from Ghana to the UK as university students at 18. Her mother qualified as a midwife in Liverpool and worked for the NHS for over 40 years, while her father built a long career in the oil industry. “I saw them juggling work and home. They instilled really strong values in us,” Kyei explained to BBC News. These values have clearly shaped her professional ethos and her commitment to supporting working families. As a mother of four, she is vocal about the Bank of England’s support for parents in the workplace, stating, “What I love about the Bank of England is that we really support working families and working parents.”
Her academic credentials are equally impressive. Kyei studied chemistry at Oxford University and was awarded a junior research fellowship by Princeton University in organic chemistry. Her career began in investment banking during the global financial crisis, later rising to become Chief Financial Officer for Mortgages at Barclays Bank. She joined the Bank of England in 2019, recruited by then-governor Mark Carney, who is now the Canadian Prime Minister. Her leadership has been central to the Bank’s decision-making ever since.
Throughout her career, Kyei has sought to empower the next generation. She encourages young people to consider banking as a career, emphasizing that “you don’t need to be a mathematician, you don’t need to be an accountant and you don’t need to be an economist. What we’re looking for is fresh perspectives and we want the best people.” This message is echoed in her approach to diversity and inclusion, both within the Bank of England and the wider financial sector.
The Powerlist 2026’s top ten reflects a broad spectrum of talent and influence. Second place went to Ian Wright, the former England and Arsenal footballer turned broadcaster, recognized for his advocacy for equity in sport. Other notable figures include Dame Pat McGrath, a world-renowned makeup artist and founder of Pat McGrath Labs; Pamela Maynard, Chief AI Transformation Officer at Microsoft MCAPS; and actor, filmmaker, and philanthropist Idris Elba OBE. The list also features entrepreneurs like Steven Bartlett, a Dragon’s Den investor, and Emma Grede, CEO and co-founder of Good American and founding partner of SKIMS.
This year’s awards ceremony, marking the 20th anniversary of the Powerlist, was a celebration of resilience, leadership, and vision. Held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, the event was co-hosted by Jeanette Kwakye MBE and Tim Campbell MBE. The Powerlist’s legacy, as Eboda noted, is about more than individual achievement. “To mark this 20th anniversary with Afua Kyei at Number 1 feels especially powerful – she embodies the leadership, resilience, and vision that the Powerlist was created to honour.”
The Powerlist’s influence extends far beyond finance and sport. Its extensive, unranked lists span arts, business, media, politics, science, and the public sector, featuring figures such as author Bernadine Evaristo, actor Cynthia Erivo, and fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner. Each honoree serves as a role model, breaking down barriers and redefining success for future generations.
For Kyei, the recognition is a call to action as much as an accolade. She hopes her journey will inspire others—especially young people from underrepresented backgrounds—to aim high. “The Powerlist has been a beacon for two decades, and I am proud to be part of that legacy,” she said. With her leadership, the Bank of England and the broader UK financial sector are likely to see even greater strides in diversity, inclusion, and innovation.
As the UK continues to navigate economic uncertainty and social change, the visibility of leaders like Afua Kyei signals a future where the country’s top institutions are shaped by a broader, more representative range of voices. The Powerlist 2026 stands as a testament to progress made—and the possibilities that lie ahead.
