Simon Thompson

Simon Thompson (born 16 June 1959) is a British investment banker and business executive. He is the current chairman of the Met Office and was the former chairman of Tarmac Group, Tullow Oil, 3i and Rio Tinto.

Early life and education Simon Thompson was born on 16 June 1959 in Bramhall. He was educated at the Manchester Grammar School. He was awarded a PhD in history by King's College London in 2018. and executive director Anglo American plc from 2005 to 2007. In 2020, while Thompson was chairman, Rio Tinto destroyed a 46,000-year-old Aboriginal site at Juukan Gorge in Western Australia. Thompson served as chairman of 3i from 2015 to 2021.

Thompson has been a director of the British Geological Survey since 2022, a senior adviser to Rothschild & Co. since 2022, a member of the Peak District National Park Authority since 2023 and chairman of the Met Office since 2024.

Thompson has served on the advisory council of the Institute of Business Ethics since 2015 and as its president since 2023. He has been a member of the Energy Transition Commission since 2019. He is an hon. professor at the University of Exeter, faculty of environment, science and economy.

Personal life Thompson married Fiona Graham-Bryce in 1986. He is a member of the Athenæum Club and the Alpine Club, and he is the author of two books about climbing and hiking.

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