HOME SECRETARY SAJID JAVID TOPS THIS YEAR’S GG2 ASIAN POWER LIST

Javid climbs one place to top the annual list of the 101 most influential Asians in Britain
 
Home Secretary Sajid Javid MP has claimed the top spot on the GG2 Power List, the definitive list of the UK’s most powerful Asians. The annual publication, which is revealed on the night of the GG2 Leadership Awards, has been published for the last 8 years and features the UK’s 101 most recognised and influential Asians from a wide range of sectors.

On topping the annual GG2 Power List, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said:
“It is an incredible honour to be the first Asian Home Secretary in our country’s history – and I'm immensely proud to be recognised on the GG2 Power List as the most influential Asian in the country.

“I want to commend all of this year's Power List entries. They are inspirational role models who represent their communities and epitomise ethnic achievement, talent and leadership in Britain.”

Javid leapfrogs Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who topped the list for the last two years. The Top 10 features a new entry in third position for Neil Basu, Assistant Commissioner of Specialist Operations for the Metropolitan Police. Basu took up this position earlier this year and is responsible for leading counter-terrorism policing nationally, widely regarded as the toughest job in British policing. Shriti Vadera, chairwoman of Santander UK, the first woman to head a major British bank remains at number six on the GG2 Power List, and activist Gina Miller, rises from 26 to tenth position this year, climbing into the Top 10 for the first time.
 
This year’s Power List featured notable new entries from the world of entertainment including TV personality Jameela Jamil (22), comedian Romesh Ranganathan (29) and BBC presenter Anita Rani (44). They join a strong list of names from entertainment including Hollywood stars Riz Ahmed (5) and Dev Patel (34), TV veterans Meera Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar (both 14), Ex-One Direction pop star Zayn Malik (21), Oscar winning film director Asif Kapadia (20), and Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain (38).
 
Notable risers from last year’s Power List include Sir Rabinder Singh (4), a Court of Appeal Judge, Sir Suma Chakrabarti (17), President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and Suella Braverman MP (31), Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department for Exiting the European Union.
 
On a glittering evening hosted by British TV and radio presenter June Sarpong at London’s Park Plaza Westminster, some of the UK’s most prominent community leaders and achievers were celebrated at the 20th GG2 Leadership Awards. The annual event reveals the GG2 Power List publication and honours some of the UK’s highest achievers from ethnic communities.
 
Winners include Man of the Year Neil Basu, Assistant Commissioner of Specialist Operations for the Metropolitan Police, Woman of the Year award winner Professor Neena Modi, Professor of Neonatal Medicine at Imperial College London and Pride of Britain Award winner Dame Pratibha Ghai, Professor and Chair of Electron Microscopy at the University of York. There were also special Editor’s awards to recognise David Lammy MP, MP for Tottenham and Harris Bokhari OBE, founder of Patchwork Foundation.
 
Shailesh Solanki, Executive Editor, Asian Media Group added: “This year’s winners are another exceptional group of individuals who have excelled in their relevant sectors and have become successful and inspirational role models for their communities and wider communities around the UK. The GG2 Leadership Awards now celebrating its 20th year, remains an important event which celebrates diversity in the UK, and year on year our nominees and winners have shown tremendous achievements which have made a positive impact on the country. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees of this year’s awards and to all who have established themselves in this year’s GG2 Power List.”
 
This year’s nominees and winners come from a wide variety of backgrounds and professionals in the fields of business, politics, creative arts, media, medicine and law were once again celebrated. The GG2 Leadership Awards and the reveal of the GG2 Power List were a culmination of a day in which the GG2 Diversity Conference also took place and saw both corporate and community leaders come together to discuss the importance of diversity and representation in the UK on a variety of panels.
 
For more information and interview requests, please contact Media Hive:
 
Samir Ahmed | 078720199990 | [email protected]