Financial News, the leading publication for the City of London, has announced significant updates to its prestigious annual lists for 2026. The changes involve the introduction of a new ranking and a substantial revision to the methodology behind one of its flagship lists, reflecting the evolving priorities within the UK's financial services sector.
Introducing the FN 50: A New Power Ranking
A major development for the 2026 cycle is the launch of the FN 50. This new list is designed to identify and rank the most influential individuals across the entire UK financial services landscape. Unlike existing lists which focus on specific roles or demographics, the FN 50 will cast a wider net.
It will consider powerful figures from asset management, investment banking, private equity, venture capital, and other key areas. The selection will be based on a combination of factors including an individual's market impact, the scale of assets or capital they control, their leadership role, and their broader influence on the industry. This list aims to become a definitive barometer of power and influence in the City.
Major Overhaul for the FN 100 Most Influential Women List
Financial News is also implementing a fundamental shift in how it compiles its FN 100 Most Influential Women ranking. For 2026, the list will move away from a pure ranking model to a categorised approach.
Recognised women leaders will now be grouped into distinct professional categories such as asset management, banking, private capital, and professional services. Within each category, individuals will be listed alphabetically, removing the numerical hierarchy of the past. This change is intended to better highlight the breadth of female talent across different sectors of finance, rather than creating a single, linear hierarchy of influence.
Refined Criteria and Ongoing Lists
The core methodology for the FN 100 will be refined. The ranking will continue to be based on in-depth research, data analysis, and confidential industry consultations. However, the emphasis will be on identifying women with significant commercial clout, leadership authority, and a proven impact on their organisation's performance and culture.
Alongside these changes, Financial News will continue to publish its other established rankings. This includes the FN 100 list of the most influential figures in European asset management, a definitive ranking of the sector's leading professionals. The publication will also continue its FN Diversity 100 list, which tracks the progress of the largest UK financial firms on gender and ethnic diversity at the board and executive committee levels.
The announcement of these changes provides firms and individuals with clear insight into the upcoming process. Financial News has signalled that the research and nomination phase for the 2026 lists will begin in earnest later this year, with the results and profiles published in the first quarter of 2026. These updates demonstrate the publication's commitment to evolving its benchmarks to accurately mirror the dynamics and priorities of modern UK finance.
