Sir Ken Olisa OBE

Honorary President

Sir Ken Olisa is one of the UK’s most prominent business leaders and philanthropists. He built an international career in the technology sector before founding and leading technology-focused merchant banking and investment businesses. He has held senior executive and non-executive positions across a wide range of major public and private organisations, and was the first British-born Black director of a FTSE 100 company. In 2015, he was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, becoming the first British-born Black person to hold the role in its more than 500-year history, and was later knighted for services to business and philanthropy.

Alongside his business achievements, Sir Ken has devoted much of his career to charitable and public service work. First elected to the Board of Thames Reach in 1993, he served as Chair until 2016. He then became our Honorary President and his support for the charity through this role continues to this day. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2010 for services to people experiencing homelessness in London.