Mo Abudu, Meghan Markle, Anthony Joshua, John Boyega make UK 100 Black Powerlist

Mo Abudu, chairman and CEO Of EbonyLife Media, has been named on The Powerlist 2018, an annual list of the UK’s top 100 most influential people of African and Caribbean heritage alongside Meghan Markle, Anthony Joshua, John Boyega, Idris Elba, Thandie Newton, Naomie Harris and more.

The 12-year-old Powerlist is chosen from a list of nominees by a distinguished panel, chaired by a former high court judge, that includes a Queen’s Counsel and leading professionals in business and the arts. Each year, the panel is reminded that ‘influence’ of the nominees is defined as “the ability to positively alter events and change lives as over a protracted period of time”.

Based on this, they give each nominee marks out of 10 on two indices: 1) how influential they are among their immediate sphere of expertise and 2) how far that influence reaches into the wider world. 

On hearing the news, Mo said:

The Powerlist is the most authoritative recognition of Black influence in the UK, therefore I am honoured and humbled to be included. It’s nice to know that those of us who return home to make our contribution is not being overlooked. This publication is sent to schools and universities all over the UK, so I hope that my story can influence even one child to follow their dreams.

Topping the Powerlist is Ric Lewis, chief executive and chairman of Tristan Capital Partners, the largest black majority-owned private company in Britain, with total assets under management in excess of €10 billion (N4.7 trillion). His charity, the Black Heart Foundation, provides educational scholarships to young people in need in the UK and abroad.

The Powerlist was revealed at a gala dinner in the City of London on Tuesday 23rd October, held to celebrate the honorees and raise funds for related charities.  

See the full list here.