Black British Business Awards announce 2019 finalists

Black British Business Awards co-founders Melanie Eusebe (right) and Sophie Chandauka with Sajid Javid at 2017's ceremony - ©2017 Steve Dunlop All Rights Reserved

The Black British Business Awards, now in its sixth year, has announced its 2019 finalists representing some of the country’s very best black talent across a range of industries.

Launched in Britain in 2014, the awards aim to celebrate and recognise “the often unsung contributions of exceptional black business professionals and entrepreneurs” in arts and media, consumer and luxury, entrepreneurs, financial services, professional services, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).

Melanie Eusebe, chair and co-founder of the awards, said that each year “unearths such an impressive pool of talent and this year is no different. We are celebrating a stand-out range of business aptitude”, which she hopes will change stereotypes.

“I’m very proud of what’s happening in the UK right now, but there’s an imbalance to representation. Even though I have been exposed to different types of black people in their fields, there is black talent that we’re not seeing,” Ms Eusebe said.

Nominees were judged on turnover, profit and their “ability to help the British economy”, she added.

One of this year’s finalists is Born Barikor, chief executive and founder of Our Parks, an initiative that works in partnership with local authorities to ensure that free and easy access to exercise is available to local communities in parks.

Mr Barikor said that he feels “immense honour to have been shortlisted as a finalist” and believes that this recognition “will inspire future leaders to believe that there’s no limit to success”.

Born Barikor, a finalist for the entrepreneur leader of the year category Credit: Steve Dunlop

Last year’s event saw Roni Savage, founder of construction services firm Jomas Associates, named the black British businessperson of the year, while Selma Nicholls, who created Looks Like Me, a talent and casting agency raising the profile of underrepresented groups, picked up the arts and media leader of the year award.

Judging the awards are a panel of business executives, chaired by co-founder Sophie Chandauka, global chief operating officer of Morgan Stanley’s shared services and banking operations.

The Telegraph is a media partner for the awards, the main sponsors for which include Baker McKenzie, Barclays, Bloomberg, Cisco, Facebook, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley.

The winners will be announced during a ceremony at St Paul’s Leonardo Royal Hotel in London on Oct 3 2019.

The finalists

Arts and media rising star

• Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinene, authors, Slay In Your Lane

• Christina Okorocha, Rumbi Mupindu and Ruby Aryiku, co-founders, VAMP Media

• Fiona Rutherford, social editor, Bloomberg News

Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinene, finalists for the arts and media rising star category Credit: Steve Dunlop

Arts and media leader of the year 

• Colin Gillespie, chief strategy officer, All Response Media

• Dorothy Koomson, author and journalist, Dorothy Koomson

• Sharon Watson, artistic director, Phoenix Dance Theatre

Consumer and luxury rising star 

• Jamela Acheampong, founder and brand director, Kahmune

• Deborah Ajaja, founder and director, Baby of Colour Milestones

• Uzo Okwuosa, designer, Frank Horn

Consumer and luxury leader of the year 

• Laura Battley, company secretary and group general counsel, New Look

• Aicha Mckenzie, chief executive and director, AMCK Group

• Sarah Nelson, head of logistics finance, Sainsbury’s

Entrepreneur rising star 

• Jamelia Donaldson, founder, Treasure Tress

• Samuel Mensah, owner and director, Uncle Johns Bakery

• Jen Scott and Jamie Tavares, co-founders, Hustle & Heels Ltd

Entrepreneur leader of the year 

• Born Barikor, founder and chief executive, Our Parks

• Hanif Kara, design director, AKT II and professor in practice of architectural technology, Harvard GSD

• Joshua Umoren and Sena Mortoo, co-founders, Morts and More

Financial services rising star

• Abisola Barber, trading business manager, Barclays

• Olusiji Sanya, co-founder, director and chief financial officer, Tranzfar

• Zabrina Smith, senior vice president of market advocacy and innovation research, Northern Trust

Financial services leader of the year

• Sophia Aluko, head of service management, Barclays

• Ireti Samuel-Ogbu, managing director, EMEA head of payments and receivables, treasury and trade, Citigroup

• Justin Onuekwusi, fund manager and head of retail multi-asset funds, Legal & General Investment Management

Ireti Samuel-Ogbu, a finalist for the financial services leader of the year category Credit: Steve Dunlop

Professional services rising star

• Roy Appiah, senior associate, Clifford Chance LLP

• Dara Kirton, senior management, PwC

• Macky O’Sullivan, senior associate, King & Spalding

Professional services leader of the year

• Teresa Owusu-Adjei, partner, PwC

• Richard Iferenta, partner, KPMG LLP

• Darren Rosier, London managing partner, King & Wood Mallesons

STEM rising star

• Biko Agozino, analyst, JPMorgan Chase

• Tobi Babalola, smart electric vehicle manager, Kaluza

• Kayisha Payne, associate scientist, AstraZeneca PLC

STEM leader of the year 

• Gisela Abbam, chair, British Science Association

• David Germain, group chief information and technology officer, RSA Insurance Group

• Sharon Lee, associate director, Arup