The Black British Business Awards (BBBAwards) revealed 2022’s winners during its ninth annual ceremony last week (29 September).
Kené Umeasiegbu, Campaigns Director at Tesco, has scooped this year’s Business Person of the Year Award. Kené joined Tesco in 2013 and has led critical public and stakeholder engagement on health, climate and diet. His twenty-year career in sustainability spans not-for-profit, consulting and corporations across continents. Last night, at the ninth annual BBBAwards ceremony in central London, Kené, also a trustee of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said on his advice for young Black professionals wanting to succeed, “it is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, that true discipline will help”.
“We can always find stories of when things did not work and we had negative experiences, but we can also find stories where we had peers, allies and sponsors supporting us. I think we need to tell more of those stories – that encourages the next generation more.” Check out the full interview here.
CHAMPIONING BLACK EXCELLENCE
The ninth annual BBBAwards Ceremony recognised the achievements of 36 Rising Stars and Senior Leaders across six industry sectors: Arts and Media, Consumer and Luxury, Entrepreneurs, Financial Services, Professional Services, and STEM. The recipients comprised of professionals and business owners who are working to drive equitable change and championing Black excellence in business.
“This group of BBBAwards finalists is extraordinary because of the pandemic, geo-political and socio-economic circumstances surrounding their accomplishments. We celebrate this breathtaking group of professionals and entrepreneurs who are competing on the global stage, representing the very best Britain has to offer,” stated Sophie Chandauka MBE, Chair of the BBBAwards and Head of Americas Risk Management and Intelligence at Meta. “They remind us of the importance of self- belief despite the odds; the merit of striving for excellence and the requirement of perseverance. We are also thrilled that, for the third year running, J.P. Morgan is Key Partner of the BBBAwards and will retain this role going into the BBBAwards’ 10-year anniversary next year.”
DRIVING MEANINGFUL CHANGE
Cecil Peters, EMEA Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Advancing Black Pathways at JP Morgan added: “JP Morgan are proud of our long-standing association with the Black British Business Awards. We are continuously inspired by the stories that emerge during the process and the vision of the entrepreneurs and professionals. The Awards shine a light on a remarkable group of people who are striving to innovate and drive meaningful change. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Kené Umeasiegbu and celebrate the success of all this year’s BBBAwards finalists.”
The BBBAwards also celebrated two individual honorary awards. The first award, Influencer of the Year, recognises a person of African or Caribbean heritage who has shaped British public opinion, industry, vocation or culture. The second, Ally of the Year Award, celebrates the work of senior Allies of the Black community who continue to strive for diversity and equality in business. Professor Shirley Thompson OBE, Renowned Classical Composer and Musician scooped the Influencer of the Year Award. Brian Corr, Head of Market Intervention, Retail Banking Financial Conduct Authority was honoured with Ally of the Year Award.
JP Morgan is the Key Partner for the third year and will retain this role going into the BBBAwards’ 10-year anniversary next year. Other sponsors include Baker McKenzie, Barclays, Bloomberg, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, Meta, MSCI, P&G, Tranzfar, Wellington Management and Wells Fargo. Through their support of the BBBAwards, these organisations are demonstrating that race equity is a key priority as they celebrate the progress made at this year’s Awards Ceremony.
2022’S AWARD WINNERS
The full list of this year’s BBBAwards winners include:
- Black British Business Person of the Year: Kené Umeasiegbu, Campaigns Director, Tesco
- Arts and Media Rising Star: Yinka Ilori, Founder and Creative Director, Yinka Ilori Studio
- Arts and Media Senior Leader of the Year: Suzann McLean, CEO and Artistic Director, Theatre Peckham
- Consumer and Luxury Rising Star: Prince Chakanyuka, E-commerce Customer Supply Chain Manager, P&G
- Consumer and Luxury Senior Leader of the Year: Patrice Gordon, Director, Commercial Strategy Development, Virgin Atlantic
- Entrepreneur Rising Star: Troy Johnson, Founder, Juici Jerk Ltd
- Entrepreneur Senior Leader of the Year: Connie Barrett, Owner & Director, Kids in Charge
- Financial Services Rising Star: Natalie Ojevah MBE, Eagle Labs Diversity & Inclusion Lead, Barclays
- Financial Services Senior Leader of the Year: Sean Alleyne, Chief Operating Officer, Credit Suisse International
- Professional Services Rising Star: Vincent Egunlae, Strategic Leadership Team, Assistant Manager, Grant Thornton UK LLP
- Professional Services Senior Leader of the Year: John McCalla-Leacy, Partner & UK Head of ESG, KPMG UK
- STEM Rising Star: Ivan Kayima, CEO, Spiela
- STEM Senior Leader of the Year: Ike Olowoye, Senior Director, Late Oncology Global Portfolio and Project Management, AstraZeneca
Check out all of 2022’s finalists here.
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