Rags to riches: Dean Forbes crowned Britain’s most powerful black man – Times of India

Dean Forbeswho transformed his life from homelessness to running a multi-billion euro tech company, has just been named the UK’s most powerful black person.
Leading Forbes, who is now 45 years old Forteroa €2bn (£1.7bn) software company. His leadership earned him first place in the Powerlist 2025which recognizes influential black individuals in various fields.
His recognition on the list, which celebrates leaders in business, technology, the arts and more, reflects his journey from challenging beginnings to inspiring success.
Established in 2006, Powerlist celebrates black excellence in fields such as business, science and the arts, aiming to inspire young people with role models from various sectors.
As one of the few Black CEOs globally to lead a multi-billion euro company, Forbes not only heads Forterro but also contributes as a partner in a private equity firm Corten Capital. He also runs the Forbes Family Group (FFG), a charity which has raised over £400,000 this year alone for causes such as African Caribbean Leukemia Trust.
According to the BBC, Forbes shared fond memories of his childhood in south-east London, where he recalls happy times in public squares and local youth clubs despite economic challenges.
Raised by a single mother with muscular dystrophy, he credits how those early hardships shaped his resilient outlook. While still at school, he showed an entrepreneurial flair by running a barbershop and selling belts of his own design to classmates.
Forbes faces further hardships in his teenage years, experiencing homelessness as he strives to build a future. Although he initially pursued a career in football, an injury sidelined him for a role at Motorola, where he quickly rose through the ranks.
He later joined Primavera, a technology firm, where he played a key role in expanding its international division, leading to its sale to Oracle for $550m (£424m).
Forbes’ rise from adversity is central to his passion to inspire young black Britons to pursue diverse career paths outside of entertainment or sport.
Although he claims he has not encountered overt racism, he often finds himself the only black person in professional circles.
He has used this platform to advocate for greater inclusivity, even pausing meetings to encourage his team to bring in people who could benefit from exposure to high-level discussions. This approach has allowed talented people to advance their careers, a testament to Forbes’ commitment to expanding opportunities.
Forbes shares top Powerlist positions with Bernard Mensah, president of International at Bank of Americaand Afua Kay, Chief Financial Officer of Bank of England.
Noteworthy Powerlist newcomers this year include Emma Grede, co-founder of fashion brand Skims; Adejoké Bakare, the UK’s first black female Michelin-starred chef; and Andrew “Rapman” Onwubolu, creator of the Netflix series ‘Supacell‘.