The UK’s top 100 black and minority ethnic leaders in technology

This is the first time the FT and Inclusive Boards, a recruitment agency that helps organisations to diversify, have published a Top 100 list of black and minority ethnic leaders in technology. Did we miss somebody in 2018? If so, please nominate candidates for 2019 using this form.

The tech sector has long suffered from a lack of diversity, including a low rate of ethnic minorities that hold leadership positions.

In the UK almost three quarters of boards and 71 per cent of senior executive teams in the top tech firms have no BAME members, according to a report being released today by Inclusive Boards.

This 2018 list highlights those making a positive change. Candidates were initially identified by Inclusive Boards, a recruitment agency that helps organisations to diversify. Researchers scanned the leadership of the top 500 tech companies by revenue and the top 50 fastest-growing tech companies in the UK and Europe.

The criteria used for nominees included their holding a senior role, having a sphere of influence within their organisation — or across a community — and driving progress in the sector outside their professional roles.

A call for nominations attracted additional candidates beyond Inclusive Boards’ research. After the researchers interviewed individuals on a long list, the judges picked the top 100, presented here in alphabetical order.

The judges also chose the top 10 most influential BAME tech leaders and named 10 highly commended disrupters.