Network International’s Chairman Ron Kalifa listed on Green Park’s 2019 BAME 100 Business Leaders index

Network International is pleased to announce that its Chairman, Ron Kalifa, has been listed on Green Park’s fourth annual BAME 100 Business Leaders index, celebrating Britain’s black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) board-ready talent.

Published by executive recruitment and diversity consultancy Green Park, the index is designed to highlight the talent, experience and expertise of ethnic minority leaders who are still severely under-represented at board level in private, public and third sector organisations.

Green Park’s BAME 100 Business Leaders index aims to inspire a shift in the attitudes and practices of leading organisations and to call into question any claim that the aim of Sir John Parker’s target – to have at least one minority member on every major public, private or third sector board – cannot be realised. The annual index showcases one hundred ethnic minority leaders that any organisation looking for a board member, should be prepared to consider, therefore banishing the age-old myth that diverse talent does not exist.

As a recognised leader in his field, Ron has been identified as one of the 100 board-ready BAME leaders by leading figures from some of the best-known and highly successful private, public & third sector organisations in the UK.

Ron Kalifa OBE was appointed Chairman of Network International in March 2019 ahead of its initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange in April 2019. In addition to his role as Chairman of Network International, he is Executive Director of Worldpay, having held the position of Chief Executive Officer of the organisation for over 10 years, and Vice Chairman for 5 years prior. Whilst at Worldpay, he has been a driving figure behind the success of the company, which became the UK’s most significant fintech IPO when it listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2015. Additionally, he is currently a Director (leading on Payments Businesses and Digital Innovation) of trade body UK Finance and an Operating Partner to Advent International.

Before Ron joined Worldpay, he held various executive roles within RBS and NatWest. Ron sits on the boards of Transport for London, QIWI, England & Wales Cricket Board and Visa Europe. Ron was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year 2018 Honours List for services to financial services and technology.

The BAME 100 leaders were identified based on a list of over 600 diverse leaders to which a proprietary scoring methodology was applied focusing on professional experience and governance expertise. The top scoring individuals were evaluated by the independent assessment panel overseen by Green Park’s Chairman and the founding Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Trevor Phillips. The assessment panel was comprised of individuals such as Chris Cummings (CEO of the Investment Association) and David Tyler (Chairman at J. Sainsbury).

Green Park’s BAME 100 Business Leaders index was launched on 11th September 2019, at Somerset House, where Green Park have acted as exhibition catalysts for the landmark exhibition Get Up, Stand Up Now, celebrating the 50 years of Black creativity in Britain and beyond.

Trevor Philips, Green Park’s Chairman, said:

“Despite the clear, long-established evidence that organisations which are diverse and inclusive perform better than those that aren’t, the UK’s private, public and third sector boards remain overwhelmingly white. Some claim this is due to a shortage of board-ready BAME individuals. But as this year’s BAME 100 list clearly demonstrates, the talent is out there – and in greater numbers than ever.

“What these leaders bring to their organisations cannot be under-estimated. Their experience and perspective act as a counter-point to homogenous, ‘group-thinking’ that many existing boards can fall prey to – making them ideal candidates for wider leadership roles.”

Ron Kalifa, Network International’s Chairman, said:

“I am delighted to feature on Green Park’s fourth annual BAME 100 Business Leaders index. It is an honour to be listed alongside such a talented and experienced group of ethnic minority leaders.

“Increasing diversity at board level is vital for our society and the success of the organisations that operate within it. While there is still a considerable amount of work to be done, it is great to see Britain’s BAME board- ready talent being highlighted and celebrated.”