# Ian Thomas Named Most Influential Black Briton on 2027 Powerlist City of London Corporation CEO recognized for leadership and public service excellence. - **Source:** [BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business) - **Published:** 2026-10-30 - **Topic:** [People & Culture](https://brifing.si/c/people) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/38b5ab79-602e-4fe3-a71e-d27b42d7b15e ## Historic Leadership Milestone Ian Thomas, CEO of the City of London Corporation, has been named the UK's most influential Black Briton on the 2027 Powerlist. He holds the distinction of being the first Black person to lead the governing body of the Square Mile in its nine-hundred-year history, marking a significant milestone for institutional representation. ## Extensive Public Service Career With over thirty years of experience in local government, Thomas was selected for his respected leadership within the public sector. Before his current role, he served as chief executive of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, where he managed public services and a substantial one-point-two billion pound regeneration programme for the area. ## Operational Scope and Responsibility As chief executive, Thomas oversees approximately five thousand staff members. His responsibilities are diverse, ranging from managing the City of London Police to maintaining eleven thousand acres of open spaces, including Epping Forest. Additionally, he leads advocacy efforts for the United Kingdom’s critical financial and professional services sector on a national scale. ## Transformative Impact in Rotherham Thomas was appointed a CBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for his work at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. As strategic director for children and young people, he was credited with transforming children's services in the wake of the Rotherham abuse scandal, demonstrating his capacity to lead during complex organizational crises. ## Diverse Powerlist Representation The 2027 Powerlist recognizes high-achieving individuals of African and Caribbean heritage across various sectors. Alongside Thomas, the top ten includes entrepreneurs like Emma Grede and Steven Bartlett, as well as filmmaker Sir Idris Elba. Comfort Ero, President of the International Crisis Group, secured the second position on this year's prestigious annual ranking. ## Lifetime Achievement Recognition Comedian Sir Lenny Henry received a Lifetime Achievement award for his foundational role in Comic Relief. Since its inception in 1985, the organization has raised over one-point-six billion pounds for charitable causes. This recognition highlights the list's broader mission to celebrate individuals who have successfully broken through systemic barriers in their fields. ## Inspiration for Future Generations Publisher Michael Eboda emphasized that the list aims to show young people of African and Caribbean heritage that leadership roles are attainable. By highlighting diverse career paths, the initiative encourages future generations to pursue opportunities in sectors they might not have previously considered, fostering a more inclusive professional landscape across the United Kingdom. ## Personal Journey and Values Born in Sheffield to Windrush generation parents, Thomas credits his work ethic to the discipline instilled during his upbringing. Although he originally aspired to be a professional footballer, his transition into public service highlights the value of adaptability. He secured his current CEO role in 2022 following seven rigorous interviews and an election. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98rz4pxm4ymo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._