LONDON, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Celebrating the brilliance, visibility and impact of Black British talent, this year’s winners of The Black British Business Awards 2026 were chosen from Senior Leaders and Rising Stars spanning STEM, Fashion, Beauty & Consumer, Arts & Media, Entrepreneurs, Financial Services, Professional Services and Retail & Hospitality, underlining what can be achieved when organisations champion and amplify Black talent and allow it to #SHINE.
Accepting his award at an exclusive ceremony presented by JPMorganChase at London’s Hilton Park Lane hotel, Black British Business Person of the Year 2026 Ije Nwokorie, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Martens, said: “This recognition means a lot to me. While this award bears my name, it reflects the talent, dedication and generosity of the incredible teammates, mentors and leaders who have shaped me.”
Appointed in January 2025, Ije has shaped Dr. Martens’ brand and growth strategy, shifting it to a customer-led operating model, giving more people more reasons to purchase.
The Black British Business Awards 2026 Category Winners are:
Arts and Media: Senior Leader: Amie Parker-Williams, Director, Digital Commissioning & Production, Paramount. Rising Star: Sheniece Charway, Artist Partnership Manager [EMEA], YouTube/Google.
Fashion, Beauty & Consumer: Senior Leader: Andrea Thompson, Journalist, Brand Consultant & Former Editor-in-Chief, Marie Claire UK. Rising Star: Yasmin O’Neal, Senior Director for Global Brand and Impact, DECIEM
Entrepreneur: Senior Leader: Antonia Okonma Shittu, Founder & CEO, A-List Lace Hair. Rising Star: Dr. Elsa Zekeng, Founder & CEO, SökerData.
Financial Services: Senior Leader: Melissa Max-Macarthy, Formerly Managing Director, Head of Strategy and Innovation, Retail Banking, NatWest Group. Rising Star: Nana Agyemang, Proposition Delivery Manager, Barclays.
Professional Services: Senior Leader: Laurie-Anne Power KC, Barrister, 25 Bedford Row. Rising Star: Jack Van Cooten, Senior Manager – External Vendors & Data, Oliver Wyman.
Retail & Hospitality: Senior Leader: Leona De Graft, VP Global Ecommerce, Levi Strauss and Co. Rising Star: Rickey Devonish, Head of Apprenticeships and Emerging Talent, JD Group.
STEM: Senior Leader: Eustace Xavier, Finance Director, Technical Services, Mitie PLC. Rising Star: Maciah Smith, Innovation and Strategic Technology Roadmapping Analyst, Johnson Matthey.
This year’s IMPACT Award goes to SKY TV, recognising and honouring its commitment to supporting Black professionals. The ICON Award goes to Ghanaian-born, British editor and stylist Edward Enninful – British Vogue’s first Black Editor-in-Chief when he joined in 2017.
Thanks to: AlixPartners, Baker McKenzie, Barclays, Diageo, The Financial Times, Goldman Sachs, JD Group, L’Oréal, Macquarie, Morgan Stanley, Ralph Lauren, Salesforce, Standard Chartered and Wellington Management.
Category Sponsors are Baker McKenzie, Barclays, Goldman Sachs, L’Oréal, Morgan Stanley and Standard Chartered, and further Significant Sponsors are AlixPartners, Diageo, JD Group, Macquarie, Ralph Lauren, Salesforce and Wellington Management.
For more information about the BBBAwards, visit https://www.thebbbawards.com/
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