FT publishes first Upstanding Leaders List of top BAME executives
The Financial Times has published the first ever Upstanding Leaders List. The list identifies 100 US and UK executives who have achieved personal success whilst also promoting black and ethnic minority workplace diversity. In first place was Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola. The rankings were decided using the following four criteria: ‘actions and impact of minority ethnic initiatives in the workplace; actions and impact of minority ethnic initiatives outside of work; achievements as a business leader; and influence, seniority and visibility within the workplace’. The list was created by CEO of Audeliss, Suki Sandhu, who also established the OUTstanding LGBT leaders ranking, and barrister Sophia Cannon.

The first UPstanding Leaders List has highlighted and celebrated 100 executives in the US and UK who have achieved senior roles while also championing diversity in the workplace.

Published by the Financial Times, the list features big names and companies from across the business world, including Bank of England, BNY Mellon, Google, Mastercard, Morgan Stanley, PwC, Starbucks and UBS.

Amongst the winners were Tunji Akintokun, Director, commercial and partner organisations for Africa, Cisco; Heather Melville, Director, strategic partnerships, Royal Bank of Scotland; Donna Herdsman, Director, Hewlett Packard; Funke Abimbola, General counsel and company secretary, Roche UK; and Miranda Brawn, Director of legal and transaction management, Daiwa Capital Markets.

Decided by a panel of eight judges, the UPstanding leaders were ranked using four criteria; ‘actions and impact of minority ethnic initiatives in the workplace; actions and impact of minority ethnic initiatives outside of work; achievements as a business leader; and influence, seniority and visibility within the workplace.’

Barrister Sophia Cannon and Suki Sandhu, chief executive of Audeliss came up with the concept of the list. Sandhu is also responsible for the OUTstanding list of LGBT leaders, also published in the Financial Times in November.

View the full list of winners and find out more here.