ROLE MODEL 73
BIOGRAPHY
UK BAME Role Model
Anthony Wade MBE
Anthony Wade, MBE, is one of the UK’ s most prominent, pioneering black, businessmen, who over the years, has helped lay the foundation for a black enterprise culture in Britain.
Wade arrived in England from Montserrat in 1954 to complete his studies and to pursue a career in public administration. In 1968, he joined forces with the late Len Dyke and Dudley Dryden by purchasing an equal share in the company they had set up three years previously, to import prerelease records from the Caribbean.
The company, which was renamed Dyke & Dryden Ltd, changed direction after identifying a gap in the market for the supply of black hair and beauty products to mainstream retail outlets. In addition to importing and exporting supplies, the trio graduated to the more lucrative activity of distribution and later the manufacturing of ethnic hair care products such as Supercurl.
In 1982, they founded Afro Hair & Beauty Ltd and went onto launch the now legendary annual hair exhibition at Alexandra Palace. The event- which was referred to as the‘ shop window’ for the widest range of black hair and skin care products- attracted large numbers of visitors from home and abroad, and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Dyke & Dryden became the largest black owned company in Britain, and by the mid-80s had an annual turnover in the region of £ 5 million.
During his 31 years with the company, Wade, held the positions of both Chairman and Chief Executive respectively, for both Dyke & Dryden and Afro Hair and Beauty Ltd. All three men are credited as pioneering the development of the ethnic haircare and beauty industry in Britain.
In addition to illustrating what can be achieved by people‘ doing it for themselves’; they have left milestones by which subsequent generations of ethnic minority business owners continue to measure themselves.
Throughout his career, Wade has served on a number of boards and held notable public office positions which include: Chairman and Director of the North London Business Development Agency( NLBDA), Board Director and founding member of The North London Training
& Enterprise Council( TEC), Chairman of the Stonebridge Housing Action Trust, Director of Business Link, Non-executive director of the Enfield & Haringey Health Authority and Chairman of the( UK) Caribbean Chamber of Commerce.
In 1987, Wade was awarded an MBE, for his contribution to employment. He retired to St. Ann’ s Jamaica in 2000, where he is highly active in various business associations and in much demand as a motivational speaker. In 2005, he collected the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Dyke & Dryden at the Black Enterprise Awards Ceremony.
He is the author of two books: How They Made a Million: The Dyke & Dryden Story( 2001) and Black Enterprise in Britain( 2003), and has recently completed writing his autobiography.
For further information or to interview Anthony Wade, please contact Jenni Asiama at The A. M. A Consultancy on: 0207 419 5696 or info @ theamaconsultancy. com
COMPETITION
Engage has two signed copies of each of Tony Wade’ s books –“ How They Made a Million” and“ Black Enterprise in Britain” – to be won. To enter the competition simply tell us- where is the Afro Hair & Beauty Show held each year?
Send your answers to Engage Magazine, unit F11, Waterfront Studios, 1 Dock Road, London E16 1AH, stating your name, address, telephone number and email address. Deadline: 30th March 2007. Winners will be the first four correct entries pulled from a box. Please state your first choice of book.
The books are priced at £ 10.00 each and are available to buy by contacting 0207 419 5696 or email: info @ theamaconsultancy. com
ISSUE THREE 2007 engage | uk