Page 51 - 2018 Powerlist

NEW Matthew Morgan
2018
Co-founder, Afropunk

Matthew Morgan is a co-founder of the Afropunk festival
and he remains strongly committed to connecting people
and supporting deprived communities in New York and
globally. Business, Corporates, Financiers & Entrepreneurs
Matthew started out working in the management business
alongside black artists who did not want to enter the RnB
and hip hop genres. They were in punk bands and rock
’n’ roll bands so he wanted to find a place for them to feel
comfortable.
Matthew’s notions at Afropunk stand up against sexism,
racism, ableism, homophobia, fatphobia, transphobia and
hatefulness. His success with Afropunk has come from it
being recognised as one of the world’s most diverse festivals
and the fact that it unapologetically celebrates black culture.
The festival made its debut at the Brooklyn Academy of
Music in New York in 2005, and has expanded across several
countries. Afropunk festivals can now be found in Atlanta,
Paris, London and Johannesburg, and attract crowds of
more than 60,000.
To attract an even wider audience, the festival shifted to
Richard Iferenta include soul music, attracting headliners including Lauryn
Hill, Lenny Kravitz and Gary Clark Jr.
Partner, KPMG The idea of Afropunk has evolved, and currently
comprises a particular force within greater youth culture.
Afropunk’s community is youthful, talented individuals
Richard is a partner with KPMG in its Financial Services from all backgrounds whose personal narratives started
Practice and heads up KPMG UK’s Challenger Banking on the outside looking in – but who have broken through
practice. In addition, he has headed up KPMG UK’s anyway. They are creative, expressive young men and
Financial Services Indirect Tax practice as well as chairing women who speak through music, art, film, action sports,
the company’s Global Financial Services Indirect Tax fashion, photography and more.
Network for 14 years. These are the artists who were once considered part
Richard’s role puts him at the centre of ensuring that of outsider culture but who now lead and influence
newer banks are able to leverage the broader expertise mainstream pop culture.
that KPMG deploys across its large financial services
practice as well as supporting challenger banks in setting
up and running banks that are dynamic and leverage new
technologies effectively.
In Richard’s role heading up the Financial Services
Indirect tax practice, he takes the lead for advising many
large banks, insurers and fund managers on transactional
work and supporting them with their day-to-day VAT
affairs. In this regard, Richard regularly engages with
HMRC, HM Treasury and the European Commission to
consult on issues impacting the financial services sector as
well as proposed legislation and changes to policy.
Richard is passionate about fairness in the workplace
and brings this passion to his role as the partner sponsor
of KPMG’s African Caribbean Network. This role puts him
in the privileged position of being able to support KPMG in
developing and executing its strategy to improve inclusion
for Afro-Caribbeans in the firm. Richard mentors and
coaches a number of the up-and-coming BME middle
and senior managers to help them unleash their full
potential. He is currently working with other black leaders
to create a community of black leaders in industry focused
on sharing experiences and supporting the up-and-coming
BME people to take on more senior responsibilities.
Richard is also a member of the Business in the
Community Race Equality Board.

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