Two new trustees have joined the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s UK Board of Trustees, offering their industry-leading expertise to guide the Foundation’s governance as it pursues its mission to strengthen free, fair and informed societies.
Laura Clayton McDonnell, President, Corporates at Thomson Reuters, and Ragunath (Raghu) Ramanathan, President, Legal Professionals at Thomson Reuters, bring decades of business leadership experience across multiple sectors and regions.
With a wealth of legal expertise honed at private corporate and securities law practice, Laura’s career then shifted into the corporate sector, where she held sales and legal roles at companies including Cisco and Apple followed by a number of senior executive positions in the technology industry, including at Microsoft, IBM and ServiceNow. Her current portfolio at Thomson Reuters is focused on customer and cultural transformation, growing market share and developing high-performance teams.
Raghu’s 25-year career at the intersection of technology and business has seen him living and working across 14 countries and seven industries, where he has held roles at SAP, Barclays Group, Bluesoft Inc and McKinsey & Company. Before joining Thomson Reuters, Raghu was Chief Revenue Officer of SAP Business Technology Platform where he drove business growth in data and analytics, artificial intelligence, application development, automation, and integration solutions.
It is an immense privilege to welcome Laura and Raghu to our UK Board in a period of ambitious growth and innovation for the Foundation. With venerable expertise across business growth, technological innovation and legal practice, our new trustees will enhance the Foundation’s expertise and propel its advancement towards developing solutions that tackle some of the world’s most critical challenges.
Having joined the Foundation’s annual flagship event, Trust Conference, in 2024, Laura Clayton McDonnell is actively involved in the Foundation’s vital work to engage corporate leaders in balancing shareholder needs with a responsible and sustainable impact on people and the planet.
I’m deeply honoured to be named a Trustee of the Thomson Reuters Foundation. I am excited to join this dedicated team as we work together to strengthen independent media, enable access to the law and promote responsible business. This vital work has a profound global impact, and I eagerly look forward to supporting the Foundation’s meaningful initiatives.
I’m particularly excited by their work to engage the private sector, including the new AI Governance Disclosure Initiative, a voluntary survey which will help business leaders to navigate their AI adoption journey in an increasingly complex landscape. Tools such as this are fundamental to the Foundation’s mission, and I look forward to supporting their development in my role as a Trustee.
Raghu Ramanathan, who joined Thomson Reuters in February 2024, brings his global expertise in driving innovation and digital transformation.
Joining the Thomson Reuters Foundation as a Trustee is a profound privilege. The Foundation’s positive impact all over the world is undeniable. Its unwavering commitment to using the power of journalism and strengthening access to the law is critical to shaping a more just and equitable global society. I am humbled to help advance this vital mission and work alongside dedicated individuals who are truly making a difference in the world.
As the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, the Thomson Reuters Foundation is an independent charity which offers a range of initiatives and services that bolster the resilience of independent media, strengthen access to the law and foster responsible business practices. Laura and Raghu join the board alongside other current and former executive members of Thomson Reuters, including Mary Alice Viucic, Chief People Officer.
Related links:
Find out more about the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s AI Governance Disclosure Initiative
Find out more about the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s UK Board of Trustees
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