Thomson Reuters Founders Share Company Announces Two Appointments to Board of Directors

NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2016 /CNW/ -- The Thomson Reuters Founders Share Company today announced the appointment of respected global media executives Ronald G. Close and Kim William to its Board of Directors.

The Thomson Reuters Founders Share Company acts as a guardian of the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Created in the midst of World War II in 1941, the Trust Principles apply to the entire Thomson Reuters business and are designed to preserve its independence, integrity and freedom from bias in the gathering and dissemination of information and news. Truly global in reach, Founders Share Company board members are represented from six continents and over a dozen countries.

Close has led a distinguished career as a senior executive at several media and technology businesses, from start-ups to large corporations. Most recently, he served as CEO of Pelmorex Media, a global multimedia company specializing in weather and traveller-related content and technology with headquarters in Ontario, Canada. In addition, he served as Executive Entrepreneur-in-Residence at The Ivey School of Business and at MaRS Discovery District in Toronto. 

He has been a director on several boards including Pelmorex, The Globe and Mail, Canada Media Fund, CTVglobemedia television network, and MaRS Innovation. He is past-Chairman of the Ivey Entrepreneurship Council, of Ability Online, a charitable organization for children with disabilities, and of the Toronto Chapter of Young Presidents Organization (YPO). Close is a graduate of the Ivey School of Business, where he earned an Honors in Business Administration degree.

Williams is a respected Australian media executive who has led major media organizations across news, publishing, television and film. His most recent role was CEO of News Corp Australia, a post he held from 2011 until 2013. Previously, he was CEO of Foxtel, Australia's main subscription television company from 2001.

In 2006, Williams was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), "for service to arts administration through executive roles with a range of cultural organizations, to music education and the formulation of arts related public policy." He currently works in various non-executive advisory roles and in February 2014 was appointed a Commissioner of the Australian Football League (AFL). Williams is also an accomplished music composer, with nearly five decades of creative industry and management experience.

Williams replaces John Fairfax, who is stepping down from the Board of Directors after over a decade of service.

Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, Chairman of the Founders Share Company's Board, said, "I am pleased to welcome Ron Close and Kim Williams to the Founders Share Company Board of Directors. Their combined experience– including in media, technology, digital disruption and freedom of press – are of growing importance to the values we uphold, and their global insight reflects the true geographic reach of Thomson Reuters."

The new appointments take immediate effect and follow the appointment of Tarja Halonen, former President of Finland, announced in late 2015.   

Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of news and information for professional markets. Our customers rely on us to deliver the intelligence, technology and expertise they need to find trusted answers. The business has operated in more than 100 countries for more than 100 years. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges (symbol: TRI). For more information, visit www.thomsonreuters.com.

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SOURCE Thomson Reuters