Sir Adam Thomson

In August 2016, Thomson sought the advice of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments on taking up a full time position as director of the European Leadership Network (ELN), a think tank that specialises in security issues. As a think tank, the ELM communicates with officials and ministers from both the UK government and North American and European governments. The committee found that Thomson would not have no contact with government regarding funding of the think tank, and that he had not had access to any commercially valuable or sensitive information in his previous roles. The committee approved the appointment on condition that Thomson would not personally lobby government on behalf of the ELN, and would not advise on matters relating to NATO for six months from his last day in Crown service. The appointment was announced in September 2016.