David Thomson: is there a family office?

Where does David Thomson wealth come from?

David Thomson’s wealth comes from his family’s media empire, the Thomson Reuters Corporation. He is chairman of the company, which was founded by his grandfather, Roy Thomson, as a small radio station in the 1930s. Over time, the family business expanded into newspapers and  became a global media and information services company.

In 2008, Thomson Corporation merged with Reuters Group to form Thomson Reuters, a mayor provider of news and financial information. The Thomson family has a controlling interest in the company through its investment arm, Woodbridge Company Limited, which manages its vast wealth, including investments in sectors as diverse as media, property and technology.

Today, Thomson’s fortune is estimated at around $68 billion, making him the richest Canadian in the world.

The Woodbridge Company as Thomson family office

The Thomson family’s family office is called The Woodbridge Company. The Toronto-based company manages the investments of the Thomson media magnates. Woodbridge’s main holding is a 62% stake in Thomson Reuters. The family office also manages the assets of Peter Thomson and Sherry Brydson. In addition to its stake in Thomson Reuters, Woodbridge also owns Markham Airport and other companies. The Thomson family office is one of the largest family offices in Canada.

David Thomson is also a renowned art collector. His collection includes works by Rembrandt, Turner, Klee, Munch and Schiele. The Thomson art collection is managed by Thomson Works of Art. Furthermore the family’s holding company has a minority stake in the NHL team the Montreal Canadiens.

Picture source: AbsolutVision