Thomas is Chairman of Arco Ltd, a 5th Generation family business. He joined the business in 1988 from an early career in London Advertising, which gave him exposure to product management and branch operations. He became Trading Director (Safety) of Arco Ltd in 1993, Supply Chain Director in 1998 and Joint MD in 2002. He assumed the Chair in April 2017.
Thomas is a keen advocate of education, utilising his learnings from studies at IMD and INSEAD, and 20+ years of formal study.
He regularly delivers keynote addresses at regional, national, and international family business conferences and Government conferences on Health and Safety (Reform, InGov), and Modern-Day Slavery. Most recently he gave evidence to the Public Accounts Committee enquiry into PPE supply during Covid.
In addition to his position on the Board of the Institute of Family Business, Thomas sits on four other Boards, and Chairs a Regional Business Engagement Board, campaigning for devolution for Hull and East Riding.