11:13, 24 October 2025
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
Sir Kenneth Aphunezi Olisa is a figure whose career spans boardrooms, public service and the charitable sector, and whose guiding maxim – “Do well, Do good” – serves as more than a slogan.
As the first British-born Black man to serve as a director of a FTSE-100 company, he has converted business success into a sustained commitment to social inclusion and philanthropy.
Educated at state schools before reading Natural, Social, Political and Management Sciences at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, Sir Kenneth launched his career at IBM and later at Wang Laboratories, working across Europe, Africa and the US.
In 1992 he founded the technology merchant bank Interregnum, later launching Restoration Partners. In 2004 he was appointed to the board of Reuters, and his board-level roles extend across major companies, and his official biography highlights his “wealth of business experience, international technology marketing and sales know-how.” That foundation enables his charitable work to be grounded in real-world leadership and networks.
Sir Ken’s philanthropic focus is sharply set on removing barriers to opportunity. As the founding chair of the Aleto Foundation (originally the Powerlist Foundation), he has worked to support future leaders from challenging backgrounds.
In a profile he explains, “Everyone must do their best, injustice must be fought and no talent
should be wasted”. Alongside his wife, Julia Sherwood, he endowed the Olisa Library at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, reflecting his belief in education as a tool for empowerment.
He is also patron of charities such as School-Home Support and The Fore, which help young people overcome poverty, domestic abuse and housing issues. For these services he received an honorary degree from the University of Westminster in 2023.
It should be noted that Sir Ken’s commitment to social justice extends into services for vulnerable adults and homeless people. He served as President of the London homeless charity Thames Reach (for which he was awarded an OBE) and Chair of the Shaw Trust, which helps disabled and chronically unemployed people into work.
In his role as Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London (appointed 2015) he has served as the monarch’s representative and championed civic, voluntary and commercial life across the capital. For him, business acumen and public service are tightly interwoven.
In an era when the divide between business success and social impact can seem widening, Sir Ken Olisa embodies the synthesis of the two. From his pioneering boardroom roles to hands-on charitable leadership, Sir Ken Olisa embodies the synthesis of the two, and his journey presents a model of how enterprise and empathy can go hand in hand.
At Smiley Movement, we elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this post.
Aleto Foundation. A UK-based social mobility charity empowering young leaders from underrepresented backgrounds through mentoring, leadership training and career opportunities, helping to close the opportunity gap. Discover more.
Thames Reach. A London-based homelessness charity supporting vulnerable adults to find housing, gain employment and rebuild their lives through practical assistance and long-term care. Find out more.
Shaw Trust. One of the UK’s leading social purpose organisations, providing employment, education and care services to help disabled and disadvantaged people achieve independence and inclusion. Learn more.
