THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK-
London, March 4, 2025 – Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner honoured the achievements of the British Asian community at the prestigious GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards, describing them as “some of our greatest Britons.” The event, hosted by the Asian Media Group (AMG), celebrated its 26th year of recognising excellence and leadership within the UK’s ethnic minority communities. The unveiling of the GG2 Power List, profiling Britain’s 101 most influential South Asians, saw London Mayor Sadiq Khan ranked number one following his historic third-term victory last summer.
Among the standout winners, the GG2 Marketing Campaign of the Year Award was presented to Manish Tiwari, Founder & Chairman of Here & Now 365, for the groundbreaking ‘#RootForMe’ campaign for Vatika Naturals. Launched for International Women’s Day 2024, the campaign innovatively addressed intersectionality in the workplace, sparking conversations on diversity and empowerment through humour, impactful storytelling, and strategic placements in Times Square and the London Tube. Speaking on the campaign, Tiwari said, “it was a campaign, for standing up for so many who are not privileged and often seen as the invisible minority—the women who are often exploited even in the most fair society such as ours when it comes to Gender Pay Gap.”
Over 700 guests, including politicians, entrepreneurs, and business leaders, attended the ceremony at the Park Plaza Hotel. BBC Chair Samir Shah received the GG2 Hammer Award for his four-decade-long impact on British media, breaking barriers as the first person of colour to lead the BBC. Seema Malhotra MP was named GG2 Woman of the Year for her contributions to immigration policy, border security, and equality, while Shabir Randeree, Chairman of DCD London & Mutual PLC, received GG2 Man of the Year for his work in Islamic banking and philanthropy.
AMG Managing Editor Kalpesh Solanki highlighted the ongoing need for inclusion, stating, “These awards celebrate great achievements but also challenge us to amplify diversity in every aspect of our organisations.”
Pladis, the event’s lead sponsor, reaffirmed its commitment to diversity and inclusion, with CFO Sridhar Ramamurthy emphasizing the transformative impact of diverse leadership.
The night concluded with a total of 20 awards presented, recognizing exceptional contributions across industries and reaffirming the vital role of diversity in shaping Britain’s future.
