City of London chief tops UK Black Powerlist

Ian Thomas, chief executive of the City of London Corporation, has been named the UK's most influential Black Briton in this year's Black Powerlist awards.

The 57-year old is the first Black person to oversee the Square Mile's governing body in its more than 900-year history.

The City of London Corporation is an administrative body with responsibility for London's central financial district, headed by its own Lord Mayor.

Thomas tops the 2027 Black Powerlist, which recognises the most powerful people of African and Caribbean heritage in the UK.

The award body said he was "a respected public-service leader with over 30 years' experience in local government".

Other influential names in this year's top ten include entrepreneurs Emma Grede and Steven Bartlett, as well as actor and filmmaker Sir Idris Elba.

Comedian Sir Lenny Henry has also been recognised, with a Lifetime Achievement award, for co-founding Comic Relief, which has raised over £1.6bn since 1985.

Now in its 21st year, the Black Powerlist celebrates people who have broken through barriers to reach leadership roles, thereby inspiring future generations.

"It exists to show young people of African and Caribbean heritage what is possible, in fields they might never have considered," said Michael Eboda, the list's publisher.

Thomas said he secured the role at the head of the City of London Corporation in 2022 only following seven interviews and an election.

'When I started my journey in public service, I never, ever thought, [not] in a million years, that I'd be recognised in this way," he told the BBC.

As chief executive, he oversees around 5,000 staff with responsibilities including the City of London Police, 11,000 acres of open spaces such as Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath, and advocacy for the UK's financial and professional services sector.

Thomas was born in Sheffield to parents who made the city their home after leaving Jamaica as part of the Windrush generation.

"They worked incredibly hard and instilled that sense of discipline and respect, and that's the core of how I do business," he said of his upbringing.

Growing up, Thomas aspired to be a footballer and took part in trials alongside Alan Shearer.

Reflecting on his own change of direction, Thomas joked it was about "following dreams and if they don't come true… there's always something else".

Before joining the City of London Corporation, Thomas served as chief executive of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames where he oversaw public services and a £1.2bn regeneration programme.

He was appointed a CBE in the 2019 New Year Honours in the wake of the Rotherham Abuse scandal for transforming children's services during his time as strategic director for children and young people at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.

Thomas replaces last year's incumbent, Afua Kyei, the Bank of England's chief financial officer and executive director, and is joined on this year's list by Comfort Ero, the President and chief executive of the International Crisis Group, who takes second place.