Afua Kyei Crowned UK’s Most Influential Black Briton in Powerlist 2026
Afua Kyei, the finance chief of the Bank of England, has been named the most influential black person in the UK by this year’s Powerlist 2026.
The periodic ranking, which celebrates the achievements of Black Britons, also highlights former footballer Ian Wright and entrepreneur Emma Grede among its notable numbers.
Kyei, who serves as administrative director at the Bank of England, took the top spot in the rearmost list.
She commented on the recognition, saying she was “delighted that someone in the public sector and financial services is being recognized in this way”.
Her position places her at the helm of the Bank’s financial governance, overseeing a balance sheet that soared above £1 trillion during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
She also directs the Bank’s quantitative easing operations, a key tool used to manage interest rates.
Kyei’s rise in finance has been rapid. She joined the Bank of England in 2019, after holding senior roles at global institutions Barclays and UBS.
The Powerlist, partnered with JP Morgan, HSBC, and PwC, has been running for 20 years. Its charge is to showcase Black part models and inspire young generations across the UK.
Ian Wright secured the alternate position for his uninterrupted advocacy for equity in sport, following an stellar career with Arsenal and England.
Third place went to Dame Pat McGrath, celebrated makeup artist and author of Pat McGrath Labs. She has been credited with transubstantiating the beauty assiduously encyclopedically.
The top 10 also features entrepreneurs like Emma Grede, co-founder of the fashion brand Skims with Kim Kardashian; BBC One’s Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett; and actor-filmmaker Idris Elba.
Kyei emphasized the broader significance of her recognition, stating: “It is not about personal achievement, it is about representation, visibility, and possibility.”
She added: “When young people see themselves reflected in spaces where they may not have imagined belonging, it changes what they believe is achievable.”
Her achievement is being celebrated across the UK as a powerful example of leadership, visibility, and impact in both finance and public service.
