Sharon Thorne, Rio Tinto Board Director and former Global Chair of Deloitte, has become a Trustee of RUSI.
With 36-year career at Deloitte, having become an audit partner in 1998, Sharon has extensive experience of auditing and advising global clients across a broad range of sectors. During her time at Deloitte, she held numerous Executive and Board roles before becoming Deputy CEO and Managing Partner Global and Strategy, Deloitte North-West Europe in 2017 and Global Chair from 2019, retiring at the end of 2023. She played a key role in supporting the globalisation and transformation of Deloitte, substantively improved governance and oversight globally and was a key advocate for developing Deloitte ’s global approach to sustainability and climate change.
Sharon’s various leadership roles at Deloitte included running significant parts of the UK business and, prior to this, leading Deloitte UK’s ‘people and purpose’ agenda. She governed significant parts of the Deloitte network, including the CIS and spent 14 years on the global board.
Sharon has long championed greater diversity in senior leadership roles. She is a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and holds a degree in PPE from Oxford University.
Commenting on her appointment, RUSI’s Chair, Sir David Lidington said:
We are very pleased to welcome Sharon to RUSI’s Board of Trustees. She brings with her a track record of experience at senior level in financial and general management which will be of enormous value to RUSI as we plan the next stage of the Institute's development.
The Rt Hon Sir David Lidington KCB CBE
Chair
Ms Thorne said:
I am thrilled to be joining RUSI as a Trustee given the critical role RUSI plays in helping the UK and the world understand and navigate the many threats and emerging challenges of an increasingly complex environment. It will be a privilege to support it.
Sharon Thorne
About RUSI
The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) is the world’s oldest and the UK’s leading defence and security think tank. Our mission is to inform, influence and enhance public debate to help build a safer and more stable world.
A unique institution, founded in 1831 by the Duke of Wellington, RUSI embodies nearly two centuries of forward thinking, free discussion, and careful reflection on international affairs and defence and security matters.
RUSI is a British institution but operates with an international perspective. Offices in Nairobi and Brussels reinforce our global reach. Over the years, we have amassed an outstanding reputation for quality and objectivity. Our heritage, location at the heart of Whitehall, and extensive networks inside and outside government, give RUSI a unique insight and authority.
You can find out more about our work and research here.