Tom Ilube

Thomas Segun Ilube (born July 1963) is a British entrepreneur and educational philanthropist. He is ranked first in the Powerlist 2017, an annual listing of the UK's 100 most powerful people with African or Afro-Caribbean heritage.

Ilube was educated at Edo College, followed by a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Benin in Benin City, Nigeria. He later received a master's degree in Business Administration from London's Cass Business School.

Ilube was chief information officer (CIO) for the internet bank Egg.

Ilube founded the Hammersmith Academy, a state secondary school in Hammersmith, west London, which opened in September 2011 and has become one of the UK's "most innovative technology schools".

He created and launched Noddle.co.uk, a credit reference service, in his time as MD of consumer markets at CallCredit Information Group. In 2005 Ilube co-founded Garlik, the online identity company sold to Experian in 2011 He founded and is the current CEO of Crossword Cybersecurity plc, listed on the NEX Exchange (Formerly ISDX).

Tom was appointed as a non executive director of the BBC effective 3 April 2017

Ilube is the chair and founder of the African Gifted Foundation, a UK education charity focused on science and technology in Africa. They recently launched the African Science Academy, Africa's first all-girls science and maths academy. He is also the chair of Ada College, the UK's National College for Digital Skills. Ada College is the first further education college to open in the UK in 23 years.

Ilube provided the prize money for the Nommo Awards for African science fiction and speculative fiction, announced at the Ake Book Festival in 2016 [1]

He was the first recipient of the City Livery Club centenary "Root and Branch" Award in 2014, presented by HRH The Princess Royal. Ilube was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Wolverhampton in 2005.

Ilube received the 2017 Beacon Award for Innovation in philanthropy..