The Black British Business Awards (BBBAwards), the ceremony that celebrates Black professionals and entrepreneurs in the British economy, is back and reveals the finalists for 2022. This ninth edition of the BBBAwards will be held in the City of London on 29 September.
Since its inception, the BBBAwards have recognised over 350 individuals and 80 organisations that champion black business excellence. The BBBAwards is a highlight of Black History Month in the UK and, in terms of representation, are the first awards ceremony of their kind in the UK.
Each year the ceremony is attended by business leaders, government officials and leading Black figures from all sectors. Previous BBBAwards winners include Steven Bartlett, co-founder of Social Chain and Dragons Den’s latest dragon; Dorothy Koomson, award-winning writer and Sir Trevor McDonald OBE.
Strategic collaborations
Beyond celebration, the BBBAwards also draw on their convening power to collaborate with strategic partners and drive cross-business initiatives to promote racial and ethnic minority professionals and business owners in the UK.
Interventions that are having a transformative impact include the mid-career talent accelerator, Race in the Boardroom, the Employee Resource Group’s MBA for Leaders programme, Facebook Boost and Weber Shandwick’s strategic PR initiative ‘RISE’, all of which support Black professionals and their representation across all sectors, from the most senior leaders to young talent, all of whom make a significant contribution to the UK economy.
Sophie Chandauka, MBE, Head of Risk and Intelligence Management for the Americas at Meta and President and Executive Founder of the BBBAwards, said: “We are proud to reveal this group of BBBAwards finalists. They are recognised by industry leaders as individuals who bring extraordinary value, demonstrating their relevance and criticality to some of the most systemically important companies in the world after the cataclysmic events of 2020. Our creatives are redefining advertising, music, food, film, art and architecture.
“Their work has been showcased and celebrated at prestigious international venues and festivals, including BAFTAs, the Cannes Film Festival, the Guggenheim Museum, Somerset House and the Africa Centre. Our entrepreneurs have used this time to seek venture capital, digitise their businesses and compete in markets that were previously impenetrable in the pre-George Floyd era. This ninth year of the BBBAwards is simply stunning!”
Cecil Peters, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in EMEA at J.P. Morgan, a key partner of the BBBAwards, added: “We are proud to sponsor the Black British Business Awards again. These awards recognise an exceptional group of people who have made a real impact and brought about significant change in the sector. Our sincere congratulations go to the finalists.
The BBBAwards 2022 recognises outstanding business talent in six sectors, celebrating rising stars and senior leaders. The finalists for the BBBAwards 2022 are:
Arts and Media Rising Star
- Ola Christian, Casting Director & Producer, Levile TV
- Yinka Ilori, Founder and Creative Director, Yinka Ilori Studio
- Natalie Morris, Journalist and Author, Freelance
Arts and Media Senior Leader of the Year
- Suzann McLean, CEO and Artistic Director, Theatre Peckham
- Juanita Rosenior, Managing Director, TGRG
- Trix Worrell, Writer and Co-founder, Distant Voices
Consumer and Luxury Rising Star
- Prince Chakanyuka, E-commerce Customer Supply Chain Manager, P&G
- Tahlia Gray, Founder and Director, Sheer Chemistry International
- Ephraim Onyegbule, Director, Eph The Barber Ltd
Consumer and Luxury Senior Leader of the Year
- Patrice Gordon, Director, Commercial Strategy Development, Virgin Atlantic
- Sharon McBean, Owner, Nia Ballerina
- Kené Umeasiegbu, Campaigns Director, Tesco
Entrepreneur Rising Star
- Jessica Elliott, Talent Agent, Jessica Elliott Management Ltd
- Fabio Ussumane Embaló, Chief Executive Officer, Viaduct Generation
- Troy Johnson, Founder, Juici Jerk Ltd
Entrepreneur Senior Leader of the Year
- Connie Barrett, Owner & Director, Kids in Charge
- Tommie Edwards, Founder and CEO, Tedbree
- Gori Yahaya, Founder & CEO, UpSkill Digital
Financial Services Rising Star
- Simeon Greaves, Associate Director, Wealth Manager, Coutts & Co.
- Tracey Ofori-Kumah, Equities Trading, Wells Fargo
- Natalie Ojevah MBE, Eagle Labs Diversity & Inclusion Lead, Barclays
Financial Services Senior Leader of the Year
- Adesuyi Agbede, Chief Data Officer, Wellington Management
- Sean Alleyne, Chief Operating Officer for Credit Suisse AG London, Credit Suisse AG
- Tobi Rufus, Executive Director, Goldman Sachs
Professional Services Rising Star
- Hanna Afolabi, Managing Director and Founder, Mood and Space
- Samuel Aluko, Manager, Business Risks & Controls – Financial Services, PwC
- Vincent Egunlae, Strategic Leadership Team, Assistant Manager, Grant Thornton UK LLP
Professional Services Senior Leader of the Year
- Raymond Evans, Owner and Managing Director, SRI Forensics Limited
- John McCalla-Leacy, Partner & UK Head of ESG, KPMG (UK)
- Amaechi Nsofor, NED, Institute of Directors, and Partner, Grant Thornton UK LLP
STEM Rising Star
- Becky George-David, Product Head, Business Banking Partnerships, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
- Ivan Kayima, CEO, Spiela
- Tolulope Oke, Global ID&E Customer Engagement Leader, Amazon Web Services
STEM Senior Leader of the Year
- Kunle Falodun, VP Distribution & Networks, Africa, Sony Pictures Television
- Edmund Reid, Group Head of Corporate Development, Centrica
- Ike Olowoye, Senior Director, Late Oncology Global Portfolio and Project Management, AstraZeneca
