A tech entrepreneur who was reportedly twice made homeless as a teenager has been named the UK’s most influential black person.
Dean Forbes, the chief executive of software solutions firm Forterro, was placed top by The Powerlist 2025, ahead of leaders in food, finance, and fashion.
Mr Forbes, 46, was placed ahead of Bernard Mensah, president of international at Bank of America, and Afua Kyei, the chief financial officer at the Bank of England.
Forterro, which, according to its website, offers “highly specialised software products and services designed to help industrial businesses strengthen operations and accelerate growth”, is valued at £1.7bn.
The Powerlist, in partnership with JP Morgan, recognises the UK’s most powerful people of African, African Caribbean and African American heritage.
Last year’s winner was British Vogue’s former editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, while seven-time Formula One world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton and former children’s laureate Malorie Blackman have also topped the list.
1. Dean Forbes – chief executive officer, Forterro; partner, Corten Capital; chair, Forbes Family Group
2. Bernard Mensah – president of international, Bank of America; chief executive officer, MLI
3. Afua Kyei – chief financial officer, Bank of England
4. Emma Grede – chief executive officer and co-founder, Good American; founding partner, Skims
5. Joshua Siaw, MBE – partner, White & Case
6. Tunde Olanrewaju – senior partner, McKinsey & Company
7. Alexander and Oliver Kent-Braham – founders, Marshmallow
8. Adejoke Bakare – chef-owner, Chishuru, Michelin-starred restaurant
9. Justin Onuekwusi – chief investment officer, St James’s Place
10. Pamela Maynard – chief AI transformation officer, Microsoft
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Also in the top 10 is Emma Grede, a founding partner in Kim Kardashian’s Skims clothing range, and chef Adejoke Bakare, the first black woman in the UK to earn a Michelin star.
The Powerlist was launched in 2005 as a way to showcase black role models to inspire young people.
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Mr Forbes, who was placed second last year, called the award “an incredible honour” and said life had taught him “the power of resilience, the importance of community, and seizing every opportunity”.
He said he hoped to inspire others from similar backgrounds “to believe in their potential and work hard to achieve their dreams”, calling it a “deeply personal dream”.
Michael Eboda, chief executive of Powerlist publisher Powerful Media, said the businessman stood out because he had “used his skills to truly give back”, adding the judges felt he “had gone above and beyond in this area”.
