Philip Thomas
Philip Thomas is the Chief Creative Officer (Global Brands) at Informa PLC and Chairman of LIONS, the umbrella organization for Cannes Lions, Warc, Contagious, and Effie.
In his current role, he partners with talented teams to shape a portfolio of global events that are brand-led and experience-driven, positioning them for the future of live, digital, and hybrid experiences.
Previously, he served as CEO of Ascential, a FTSE 250 company, where he led transformative M&A initiatives and returned over £850 million to shareholders.
He played a pivotal role in developing and scaling marquee events such as Cannes Lions and Money 20/20, growing them from a combined £185 million acquisition to their ultimate sale to Informa for £1.2 billion in 2024—achieving one of the highest multiples ever recorded in the sector.