Tristan Capital Partners Chief Executive Ric Lewis has been named the most influential black Briton, on a list that includes luminaries such as the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and Vogue Editor in Chief Edward Enninful.

Powerlist, an independent organisation supported by partners including J.P. Morgan, EY and Linklaters, has for the past 12 years produced a list of the 100 most powerful people of African and African Caribbean heritage in Britain.

Tristan Capital Partners is the largest black majority-owned private company in Britain.

Powerlist said Lewis is a respected veteran in the world of international property investment and Tristan, the firm he founded in 2009, has become one of the fastest-growing and strongest-performing private equity real estate investment managers in Europe. Last year alone, the company increased its total assets under management by more than 30% to in excess of €10B.

As well as his business acumen Powerlist praised Lewis’ charitable endeavours, in particular through his own charity the Black Heart Foundation. Each year, the foundation provides educational scholarships to young people in need in the U.K. and abroad.

“I am privileged to have been voted No. 1 for 2019,” Lewis said. “Over the course of my career, I have been fortunate enough to accumulate the network and means, which allow me to give back. I hope to use this accolade to continue to advance the charitable causes I feel most passionate about, with the express aim of helping a greater number of children and young adults aspire to and achieve more.

“I have a deep belief that if kids are provided with inspiration, encouragement and the resources and pastoral care they need, great things can happen for them and for our community. It’s up to all of us to find our own ways to connect the dots and make this happen.”