Ian Thomas, chief executive of the City of London Corporation, has been named the UK's most influential Black Briton in this year's Black Powerlist awards, according to the award body.
Thomas, 57, is the first Black person to oversee the Square Mile's governing body in its more than 900-year history. The Black Powerlist recognises the most powerful people of African and Caribbean heritage in the UK. The award body said he was "a respected public-service leader with over 30 years' experience in local government."
Other names in the top ten include entrepreneurs Emma Grede and Steven Bartlett, and actor and filmmaker Sir Idris Elba. Comedian Sir Lenny Henry received a Lifetime Achievement award for co-founding Comic Relief, which has raised over £1.6bn since 1985.
Comfort Ero, president and chief executive of the International Crisis Group, takes second place.
Thomas said he secured his role at the City of London Corporation in 2022 after seven interviews and an election. "When I started my journey in public service, I never, ever thought, [not] in a million years, that I'd be recognised in this way," he told the BBC.
As chief executive, Thomas oversees around 5,000 staff. His responsibilities include the City of London Police, 11,000 acres of open spaces such as Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath, and advocacy for the UK's financial and professional services sector.
Thomas replaces last year's incumbent, Afua Kyei, the Bank of England's chief financial officer and executive director.