The Bank of England’s Chief Financial Officer, Afua Kyei, has been named the most influential Black Briton on the Powerlist 2026, recognizing her as one of the UK’s foremost leaders in finance and public service.
Kyei, who oversees the financial governance of the Bank’s £1 trillion balance sheet, has played a pivotal role in steering funding reforms and spearheading upgrades to the UK’s critical payments infrastructure. She is also an outspoken advocate for diversity, inclusion, and climate disclosure across the financial sector.
Describing the recognition as “incredibly humbling,” Kyei reflected on her journey as a woman in leadership and the importance of representation.
“I didn’t see so many women in big leadership roles who had families, and I know that there are lots of women who think that they need to choose between work and having a family,” she said. “What I love about the Bank of England is that we really support working families and working parents.”
A mother of four, Kyei’s story is one of determination and excellence. After studying Chemistry at the University of Oxford, she was awarded a Junior Research Fellowship by Princeton University in organic chemistry. She began her career in investment banking during the global financial crisis and later became Chief Financial Officer for Mortgages at Barclays before joining the Bank of England in 2019, where she has since become integral to the Bank’s leadership and decision-making.
Kyei credited her parents—both Ghanaian immigrants to the UK—as her biggest inspirations.
“My mother came to Liverpool, trained to become a midwife and enjoyed a 40-year-plus career with the NHS. My father has enjoyed a long career in the oil industry. I saw them juggling work and home. They instilled really strong values in us.”
Recruited to the Bank by Mark Carney, then the Canadian Prime Minister and former Governor of the Bank of England, Kyei’s ascent has been marked by trailblazing leadership and a commitment to opening doors for others.
Encouraging young people to pursue careers in finance, she emphasized that the industry values a range of perspectives:
“You don’t need to be a mathematician, you don’t need to be an accountant, and you don’t need to be an economist. What we’re looking for is fresh perspectives and we want the best people.”
Kyei succeeds tech CEO Dean Forbes, who topped last year’s Powerlist, joining an elite group of leaders recognized for shaping Britain’s future across business, culture, and public life.
Congratulations, Afua Kyei — a shining example of excellence, leadership, and the power of representation at the highest levels of global finance.
Source: ameyawdebrah.com/
