Carol Lake, managing director of international markets and corporate responsibility at J.P. Morgan won the Leader of the Year award and Charlene Brown, legal counsel at bank of New York Mellon won the Rising Star award, both in financial services.

The Black British Business Awards, founded by Melanie Eusebe and Sophie Chandauka, celebrate and promote the significant contribution by black professionals and entrepreneurs across the UK.

The awards recognise established leaders and rising stars in science, technology, arts and the media, professional services, and finance.

Accountancy’s BAME survey, that ranks top accounting firms by BAME partners, shows EY at the top of the table with 58 out of a total of 761 partners being BAME. They are followed by PwC who has 56 BAME partners out of a total of 962. Smith & Williamson is the bottom of the table with only one BAME partner out of a total of 306.    

Melanie Eusebe, chair and co-founder of the Black British Business Awards said: ‘I congratulate both Carol Lake and Charlene Brown on their awards in the Financial Services category of the Black British Business Awards.  They are role models within the financial services community and demonstrate excellence in the work they do.

‘Financial services are an important aspect of the British economy and these individual achievements highlight that diversity in business – especially financial services - makes for better business and diversity throughout the workforce is a commercial imperative for businesses in Britain.’

The financial services category was sponsored by Baker & McKenzie, its senior inclusion and diversity manager, Justine Thompson, said: ‘We are proud to support the Black British Business Awards. Diversity is a key part of our strategy and we understand the importance of highlighting and celebrating leaders and role models from the black community.’