Tom Thomson had a long career as a foreign correspondent and senior executive with Reuters, the global media company. He was based in the Middle East, US, Asia and Africa and was latterly global managing editor of the 2,500-strong news division. Media roles since leaving Reuters include managing editor of Scotland’s main newspaper group.
Thomson served on the board of the British Council, the UK’s £1.2 billion international cultural relations organisation, chaired the risk committee and was on the audit and finance committee. He had a particular focus on the Middle East and is a global fellow of SOAS University of London.
He chairs a company making innovative construction and defence solutions and was founding chair of a biotech firm. He has been involved in various charities and is trustee of a pension fund.
He chaired the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scotland’s main professional orchestra, and was appointed OBE for services to classical music.
He was elected as a CBRL trustee in December 2019 and is currently the trustee with responsibility for risk governance. He is a member of the finance and governance and human resources sub-committees.