It has been announced that JN Bank UK deputy CEO, Paulette Simpson, has been ranked among Britain’s top 10 most influential people of African or Caribbean heritage. An executive director of the UK’s only Black national newspaper, the Voice, which is also owned by The Jamaica National Group, was ranked at number eight on the Powerlist 2023.
This is Simpson’s fourth inclusion on the Powerlist, with her previously being ranked on the list in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The list is a celebration of the achievements of the 100 most influential Black Britons and the most influential people of African, African-Caribbean and African-American heritage in the UK.
Born in Manchester, in Jamaica, Simpson, the deputy chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee in the UK, was recognised with a CBE by the late Queen Elizabeth II and also received a Certificate of Commendation from the UK Home Secretary for outstanding contribution in the field of Home Affairs.
Jamaica National Group’s chief executive officer, Earl Jarrett, was also named on the Powerlist, after being recognised for the Group’s presence in the UK and the establishment of JN Bank UK. The most influential Black Briton on the list was Dame Sharon White, chair of the John Lewis Partnership.
The Powerlist is an annual publication that was first published in 2007 in a bid to provide professional role models for young people of African and African Caribbean heritage. Others on the list include entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den dragon, Steven Bartlett, TV presenter, historian and joint creative director of Uplands Television Ltd., David Olusoga and Group General Counsel, and a management team member at Standard Chartered Bank Dr Sandie Okoro.
