Tech Leader and Community Philanthropist, Dean Forbes receives Baobab Award for Business at Best of Africa Awards 2022

Dean Forbes, CEO, Forterro and Chairman of Forbes Family Group received the prestigious Baobab award: Business – at this years’ Best of Africa Awards alongside ex footballer Patrick Viera and award winning musician and actor Kano in the UK’s Best of Africa awards.

London, October 9, 2022: Forbes Family Group are excited to share that our Chairman, Dean Forbes, has won the Baobab Award: Business at the Best of Africa awards, held in London on Sunday 8^th October. The award recognises Forbes’ leadership skills and success in business achievements and is Best of Africa’s most prestigious award which celebrates pioneering leaders and leadership in their industries.

 The high-profile 10^th year of the awards ceremony saw speeches by the likes of boxing legend Anthony Joshua and ITV News and Loose Women presenter Charlene White. Compered by comedian Eddie Kadi and actress Sophy Aiida. The awards brought together sporting greats and leaders from across business, entertainment and education alongside philanthropists to honour the amazing achievements of those from African and Caribbean heritage worldwide. 

Forbes as a business leader transforms technology companies for employees and investors. He’s delivered over $2bn in exits and is one of very few CEOs in Europe to have delivered high value-growth consistently, across multiple transactions. Most recently and under Forbes’ leadership, Forterro changed hands in March 2022 for €1bn, joining Europe’s growing numbers of ‘Tech Unicorns.’  At Forterro, Forbes is the driving force behind a programme of acquisitions, organic growth and dynamic internal transformations. Dean is also a partner at Corten Capital, where he advises the firm on European technology acquisitions and is also a member of their deal review committee. He has agreed with Corten Capital that it will increase its support for founders and entrepreneurs from under-represented communities. Additionally, he is a board trustee of the London-based African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust.

Dean is also recognised by the awards for his philanthropic work. His foundation, Forbes Family Group (FFG) a not-for-profit organisation which provides investment, networking, mentoring and development support to young people and entrepreneurs from under-represented backgrounds. FFG has helped more than 1,170 young people move from difficult situations into education or into promising careers. It also donates meals, toiletries and baby clothes to parents in need and invests in a chain of not-for-profit pre-and after-school clubs which provides free childcare for parents facing financial hardship.

Davina Williamson, CEO of FFG quote; 

“After a year of incredibly hard work both professionally, accomplishing another unicorn deal by selling Forterro to Partner’s Group for 1 Billion Euros, joining Corten Capital, and philanthropically through our initiatives, events and programs at FFG, we are delighted to see Dean recognised and celebrated by the Best of Africa Awards with this amazing honour. 

Seeing the commitment, time and resource that Dean pours into his ever-flourishing career and the communities from which he has come from is truly inspiring and motivates the FFG team to continue to do even more good!  Please join us in congratulating our Chairman on this receiving well deserved award.  His desire to attain and share the level of excellence that we see him honoured for this evening is something that drives us all to want to same and his generosity in sharing his knowledge and wisdom and provide platforms for generations that follow to achieve their best is both admirable and inspirational.  Well done and thank you Dean!”