Black Leadership in the UK: Afua Kyei Leads the Powerlist 2026

Strategic Insights -

Afua Kyei, the 43-year-old finance chief of the Bank of England, has been named the UK's most influential black person, replacing the CEO of Forterro, Dean Forbes, in the top spot of the Powerlist 2026. Kyei, who was appointed by Mark Carney, the bank's former governor and now Canada's prime minister, attributes the list's importance to providing visibility to black role models for young people. Women occupy more than two in five seats on the boards of Britain's biggest listed companies, according to a report published earlier this year.

Key Takeaways:

  • Afua Kyei, the finance chief of the Bank of England, has been named the UK's most influential black person in the Powerlist 2026.
  • Kyei aims to help others fulfill their ambitions and provide visibility to black role models for young people.
  • The Powerlist was started in 2006 to showcase black role models across industries, including business, science, technology, and the arts.
  • Women occupy more than two in five seats on the boards of Britain's biggest listed companies.
  • The number of female FTSE 100 chief executives has dipped to fewer than 10, according to a report published earlier this year.
  • The Bank of England has aimed for 10% of its graduate intake to be of black heritage by 2028 and up to 20% of senior managers to be of black or ethnic minority background.
  • Kyei is of Ghanaian heritage and has helped steer the bank through tumultuous periods, including Brexit, the coronavirus pandemic, and Russia's war on Ukraine.
  • Kyei began her career in the private sector after graduating from Oxford and Princeton universities and is a student of chemistry.

Statistics:

  • Women occupy more than two in five (42%) seats on the boards of Britain's biggest listed companies (Hiscox, 2025).
  • The number of female FTSE 100 chief executives dipped to fewer than 10 (Hiscox, 2025).
  • The Bank of England has aimed for 10% of its graduate intake to be of black heritage by 2028 (Bank of England, 2022).
  • 20% of senior managers at the Bank of England aim to be of black or ethnic minority background (Bank of England, 2022).

Sources:

  • Hiscox (2025)
  • Bank of England (2022)
  • The Guardian (2026)