RNRMC appoints Bill Thomas as chairman
Bill (right) is a proprietor of Hopton Estates and an independent Non-Executive Director of Xchanging plc, the Co-operative Bank plc and GFI Sarl. He is the President of the Alumni Association and a Council Member at Cranfield University. He chaired Labour’s reviews into defence procurement and small business policy and retired from Hewlett Packard as a Senior Vice President having led their European service business. He served on the President’s Committee of the CBI for nine years.
On speaking of his appointment on 14 July 2015, Bill Thomas said: “The Royal Navy and Royal Marines have been central to Britain’s past and are critical to Britain’s future. Our Charity’s vision is of a world in which our sailors, marines and their families are valued and supported, for life. Over the next five years we will build on the success the Charity has achieved under the chairmanship of Vice Admiral Sir Richard Ibbotson, which has seen it reach more beneficiaries through an increasing grants programme. This will require excellent operational execution and close working with our charity partners, with the Royal Navy and with our supporters and donors.
“I am pleased to be joining the Charity at this exciting time and very much look forward to leading the Board through the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”
Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, President of the RNRMC, said: “I am delighted to welcome Bill to the Charity. He brings an enormous amount of experience from the world of business and his other charitable interests and a passion for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines that he has gained from working with the MOD over many years. He will continue our focus on our beneficiaries and build on the momentum that The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity has developed."
Bill Thomas succeeds Vice Admiral Sir Richard Ibbotson – a decorated naval officer and former Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet – who led the Charity through an important period of change and maturity.
