WELCOME to the 14th annual
GG2 Power List, celebrating
Britain’s 101 most influential
south Asians.
Our list is a veritable mine of
information and analysis on
some of the most outstanding
and influential south Asians in
Britain today.
We know not everyone will
agree with our ranking or even
agree with whom we have on
the list and who we may have
left out.
There are always some very
tough choices and we aim to re-
fresh at least a third of those on
the list each year and showcase
up and coming talent.
The GG2 Power List is the
result of many months of inten-
sive research, analysis and
debate. We consult widely and
extensively about the people
both on this list and
those who didn’t
quite make it.
We fully appre-
ciate the subjec-
tive nature of this
publication and
part of our reason
for publishing it is
to initiate a wider
public debate about
power and influence – espe-
cially as it relates to people of
south Asian heritage living in
Britain.
Alongside our GG2 Leader-
ship & Diversity Awards, we
want to shine a light on success
in Britain – some of these peo-
ple are influential because they
have achieved great things and
from that comes respect, recog-
nition and sometimes acco-
lades that take these individuals
to even higher levels.
These are the successful ones
and in many cases have broken
through significant barriers to
be where they are today.
But for all our success we al-
so have to recognise there is
work to be done.
We have clearly made huge
strides in politics with an Asian
prime minister, an Asian first
minister of Scotland, an Asian
leader of the Labour Party in
Scotland and an Asian mayor
of London.
But the levers of power in
many areas of British life re-
main almost exclusively colour
free. From permanent secretar-
ies, senior judges and military
top brass to editors of national
newspapers, NHS Trusts and
FTSE 250 companies, the Brit-
ish landscape is dominated by
snowy white peaks.
There is considerable talent
in all ethnic communities, but
organisations must do better in
recruiting, retaining and nurtur-
ing this untapped talent pool.
The success of this title illus-
trates our broader and ultimate
purpose. That is to encourage,
inspire and nurture the next
generation of leaders from eth-
nic minority communi-
ties.
Celebrating the
success of our
community and
inspiring the next
generation is one
of the key goals of
this list, inspired by
our dear parents and
founders of AMG, Ram-
niklal Solanki CBE and Par-
vatiben Solanki. And it is with
their blessings and guiding
principles that we continue
their legacy.
Thousands of hours have
been spent in researching, in-
terviewing and deliberating on
all 101 and we are in awe of eve-
ry single one here and com-
mend the achievements which
have put them here.
Very simply, there are some
great stories and we hope you
will be inspired by them – as we
have been in compiling them.
It only remains for us to
thank everyone involved in the
process and commend you to
read and enjoy it.
Kalpesh R Solanki,
Group Managing Editor;
Shailesh R Solanki,
Executive Editor
Our panel of experts
The GG2 Power List was extensively researched and
compiled by a team of journalists, with the final
rankings adjudicated by an experienced panel...
Inspiring the next gen
KALPESH R SOLANKI is group managing
editor of the Asian Media Group (AMG). He
graduated with a law degree (LLB Hons)
from Queen Mary College, London, and qual-
ified as a barrister from the Inner Temple.
Kalpesh is responsible for the strategy and
growth of AMG operations over three coun-
tries – America, Britain and India. He sits on
the board of the charity Pratham UK.
SHAILESH R SOLANKI is AMG’s executive
editor. He has 30 years of experience in jour-
nalism, overseeing titles, including Eastern
Eye, Garavi Gujarat, Asian Trader, Pharmacy
Bu siness, Asian Hospitality and the Asian Rich
List. He has a keen interest in diversity and is
vice chair of the thinktank British Future, an
advisor to the Rare Dementia Support charity
and on the board of Pratham UK.
AMIT ROY is one of the most experienced
journalists to have covered the Asian
community. He is the editor-at-large at
Eastern Eye and has also worked as a
foreign correspondent for The Daily
Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Sunday
Times and The Sunday Telegraph. Amit has
covered wars all over the world and has
written economic reports on India.
RITHIKA SIDDHARTHA edits Eastern
Eye, the consumer titles published by
AMG. She began her journalism career in
India, working at The Asian Age newspaper
in Bangalore and New Delhi, before moving
to London. She secured exclusive inter-
views with prime ministers David Cameron
and Theresa May ahead of the 2015 and
2017 general elections, respectively.
BARNIE CHOUDHURY is an award-win-
ning journalist who worked for the BBC
for 24 years. He is currently a communica-
tions’ consultant and editor-at-large for
Eastern Eye. Barnie worked for the current
Commonwealth secretary-general as her
director of media and PR, and he was part
of the senior leadership team in several in-
stitutions. He lectures in journalism at the
University of East Anglia.
SARWAR ALAM is the senior reporter on
Eastern Eye newspaper. He writes break-
ing news, investigative features and sport
stories for the newspaper and online. He
has interviewed the likes of Rishi Sunak,
Sadiq Khan, Riz Ahmed and Sachin Ten-
dulkar. He began his career on ITV and
has done stints at Eurosport and ESPN,
where he covered major sporting events.
Power List GG2
2024 | GG2 Power List
Kalpesh (left) and Shailesh Solanki;
(inset below) Ramniklal Solanki CBE