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WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN THE FIRST BLACK BRITISH BUSINESS AWARDS

WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN THE FIRST BLACK BRITISH BUSINESS AWARDS

WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN THE FIRST BLACK BRITISH BUSINESS AWARDS

Awards celebrate outstanding achievements of black British business leaders
Leading business figures across UK PLC came together today to celebrate the winners of the first Black British Business Awards, sponsored by EY. This year’s outstanding winners are all role models who will inspire a new generation to pursue excellence in their careers.
According to a study conducted by Business in the Community, the share of BAME people in top management has increased by just 0.5% between 2007 and 2012, but in real terms the number of BAME people in top management positions has decreased from 95,023 to 73,378 – a drop of 21,645.

The Black British Business Awards, founded by Melanie Eusebe and Sophie Chandauka, celebrate and promote the significant contributions by black professionals in businesses in Britain, uncovering inspirational role models and ambassadors across all UK industries including media, professional services, finance, infrastructure and manufacturing and STEM.
The 15-strong judging panel was comprised of business leaders across a wide range of industries including: Sanjay Bhandari, Partner, EY, Karen Blackett OBE, CEO, MediaCom, Tim Campbell MBE, Head of Client Services, Emerging Talent, Alexander Mann Solutions; winner The Apprentice (2005), Adrian Joseph, Director, Customer Solutions & Innovation, Northern & Central Europe Google and Steve Smith, Chief Marketing Officer, ASDA.

2014 Black British Business Awards winners

Financial Services (includes in-house professionals) – sponsored by Alexander Mann Solutions

Leader

  • Trevor Williams, Chief Economist, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking Rising Star  Lorraine Wright, Director, UBS

Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG, includes retail) – sponsored by Diversity Jobs

Leader

  • Wilfred Emmanuel Jones, Founder, The Black Farmer

Rising Star

  • Timi Dorgu, Regional Sales Manager, London, L’Oréal

Infrastructure and Manufacturing (includes transportation, built environment, power and utilities) - sponsored by BP

Leader

  • David Waboso CBE, Capital Programmes Director, London Underground Ltd

Rising Star

  •  Jim Lenga-Kroma, Human Resources Graduate, RWE npower

Press information available from BLJ London, 0207 932 1599 Victoria Morgan ([email protected]) Carollyn Lascelles ([email protected])
Media and the Arts (includes media, publishing, advertising, entertainment) – sponsored by MeWe360

Leader

  • Darcus Beese OBE, President, Island Records

Rising Star

  • Joanna Abeyie, Founder and Director, Shine Media Ltd

Professional Services (includes law, accounting, management consultancy) – sponsored by Baker & McKenzie

Leader

  • Tom Shropshire, Partner, Linklaters LLP

Rising Star

  • Chike Eduputa, Consultant Analyst, PA Consulting Group

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM, includes health professionals) – sponsored by EDF Energy

Leader

  • Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Space Scientist and Science Communicator, UCL and Science Innovation Ltd

Rising Star

  • Anne-Marie Imafidon, Head Stemette, Stemettes

Entrepreneur of the Year – sponsored by Virgin Money

Leader

  • Piers Linney, Co-CEO, Outsourcery PLC

Rising Star

  • Philip Poku, Founder/Director, Young Graduates Day Nursery

Black British Business Person of the Year – sponsored by EY

Margaret Casely-Hayford, Chairman, Action Aid UK

Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, who gave the keynote address at the awards ceremony stated:

“If we are to build a stronger, fairer, more modern society, we need to do more to back the achievements of the black entrepreneurs that are celebrated at these awards today.
“I am championing a new initiative that will put future black leaders at the top table of our biggest companies. Working with Trevor Phillips, this campaign will get the balance in the boardroom right and encourage businesses to put ethnic diversity at the top of their agenda.”
Melanie Eusebe, Chair and Co-founder of the Black British Business Awards commented: “The first year of the Black British Business Awards has been a wonderful journey and this year’s winners are some of the most inspiring business people I have come across. All of our finalists are role models and trail blazers, demonstrating excellence, defying stereotypes and creating opportunities for others wherever possible.

Press information available from BLJ London, 0207 932 1599 Victoria Morgan ([email protected]) Carollyn Lascelles ([email protected])

Thanks to the tremendous support of our sponsors, judges, partners and Government this inaugural year of the awards has been unforgettable and has laid the groundwork for much- needed change through collaboration.”
Sanjay Bhandari, an EY partner and member of the awards judging panel added: “Improving the diversity of British boardrooms isn’t purely a case of political or organisational policy. It requires role models to demonstrate that barriers can be overcome and to show what can be achieved.
The winners and finalists of the Black British Business awards are all inspirational ambassadors and I hope will have a large part to play in encouraging the next generation of talent. It has been a privilege for EY, and for me personally as a judge, to lend our support.”
For further information about the awards please see: www.thebbbawards.com

BBBAwards Delivery Partner – Everywoman Ltd

Founded in 1999 by Maxine Benson MBE and Karen Gill MBE, everywoman has been leading and influencing the gender diversity conversation with government, industry and women in business globally for 15 years.

everywoman understands how to launch, develop and grow impactful, sustainable, game- changing programmes that uncover role models, engage stakeholders in the conversation, inspire change and cause a shift in diversity thinking. www.everywoman.com

BBBAwards Partner Sponsor - About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organisation and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organisation, please visit ey.com.

Full list of judges

  • Priyanka Banerji-Bhatia – Human Resources Director, EMEA, PayPal
  • Sanjay Bhandari – Partner, EY
  • Karen Blackett OBE – CEO, MediaCom
  • Tim Campbell MBE - Head of Client Services, Emerging Talent, Alexander Mann Solutions; winner The Apprentice (2005)
  • Sophie Chandauka (Chair of the Judging Panel) – Head of Asset Financing, Virgin Money Group
  • David Craig - President, Financial and Risk, Thomson Reuters
  • Donna Fraser – former GB Olympian, Chair of BAME Network and Leader of EDF Health and Wellbeing initiative
  • Sarah Gregory – Employment Partner, Baker & McKenzie
  • Donna Herdsman - Director-UK Public Sector, Hewlett Packard
  • Adrian Joseph – Director, Customer Solutions & Innovation, Northern & Central Europe, Google
  • Justine Lutterodt – Director, Centre for Synchronous Leadership
  • Sandie Okoro - Global General Counsel, HSBC Global Asset Management
  • Paul Reed - CEO of Integrated Supply and Trading, BP
  • Alison Sidaway - Head of SME Pricing, Costing and Contract Management, RWE Npower
  •  Steve Smith – Chief Marketing Officer (Executive Director), ASDA
  • Daniel Taylor – Managing Director, Metro Design Consultants
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