Patron: James Thomson CBE

James Thomson CBE is a senior business and public-sector leader with more than three decades of experience across financial services, housing, policing, education and philanthropy. An elected Common Councillor for the Ward of Walbrook since 2013, he currently serves as Deputy Chair of Policy and Resources at the City of London Corporation. He is also a Non-Executive Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Chair of its Audit and Risk Committee, a Board Member of the City of London Police Authority, and City Bridge Foundation, a Non-Executive Director of Strata Homes and UK Finance, and a Trustee of The Children's Society

A Chartered Accountant, his earlier career was at PwC, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, and Smith Group. More recently he has held senior executive and non-executive board level roles in a range of public and private businesses at DTZ (CFO and COO), Keepmoat (CFO and then CEO) and MJ Gleeson plc (CEO and then Chair). At HSBC he spent three years advising the Mandela, ANC led Government of National Unity in South Africa on it growth, employment and redistribution programme. 

James has made significant contributions to policing, public safety and inclusion, including as former Chair of the City of London Police Authority Board, founding Chair of the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group and a volunteer with the City of London Special Constabulary.  He also supports education and was until a recently a Governor of the City of London School (former Chair) and City Junior School and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2025 New Year Honours for services to policing and inclusion. 

As a Patron of Migrant Leaders, James brings extensive leadership experience and a strong commitment to social mobility, widening access to education and helping talented young people fulfil their potential.