The Thomson family are at the heart of global media and information purveyor Thomson Reuters Corporation. The company started with Roy Herbert Thomson, who acquired his first newspaper in 1934. Less than twenty years later, Thomson had already expanded overseas to Scotland, where he acquired The Scotsman in 1952. Five years later, he was awarded the contract for Scottish Television, which he later described as a “permit to print money”.
In 1964, Thomson was awarded the peerage of Baron Thomson of Fleet for his public services. The title has since been passed to his son, Kenneth Roy Thomson, and to current Thomson Reuters CEO David Kenneth Thomson, Third Baron Thomson of Fleet. Under Kenneth Thomson, Reuters expanded their global influence to all regions. At the time of his death, he was the richest person in Canada and the ninth-richest in the world, with an estimated net wealth of US$19.6 billion.
David Thomson assumed the role as CEO of Thomson upon his father’s death in 2006. His current net worth is estimated at US$37.7 billion. He is known for his private endeavours as head of realty firm Osmington and as a prolific art collector. He has shattered many art sales records. He is somewhat of a recluse in the business world, rarely giving interviews and openly expressing his disdain for the business culture. This has led to him withdrawing further into the core business and his private ventures.
