:Tom Singh

{{Short description|British-Indian businessman (born 1949)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Tom Singh

| image =

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| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1949|08}}

| birth_place = Punjab, India

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| nationality = British-Indian

| education = Wellington School

| alma_mater = Aberystwyth University

| occupation = Businessman

| known for = Founder of New Look

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| spouse = Kuljit Kaur

| children = 2

| parents =

| relatives = Simon Singh (brother)
Anita Anand (journalist) (sister-in-law)

| website =

}}

Tom Singh {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE}} (born August 1949) is a British-Indian businessman who is the founder of the New Look, a chain of high street fashion stores in the United Kingdom.

Early life

Singh was born into a Sikh family,{{cite news|last=Leroux|first=Marcus|title=Bigshot of the week|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/movers_and_shakers/article7025684.ece|accessdate=4 February 2011|newspaper=The Times|date=13 Feb 2011|location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} in Punjab, India who emigrated to England in 1950 when he was a baby.{{cite web|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/1096499.new_looks_tom_singh_honoured_with_an_obe/|title=New Look's Tom Singh honoured with an OBE|website=Bournemouth Echo|date=30 December 2006 |accessdate=3 July 2018}} He was educated at Wellington School.{{cite web|url=http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/taunton_news/15265127.From_Wellington_market_stall_to___385million_-_the_incredible_rise_of_Tom_Singh/|title=From Wellington market stall to £385million - the incredible rise of Tom Singh|website=Somerset County Gazette|date=5 May 2017 |accessdate=3 July 2018}} He earned a degree in international politics and geography from the University of Wales in Aberystwyth.{{cite web|url=http://www.spearswms.com/britains-bollygarchs/|title=Britain's Bollygarchs|date=29 April 2010|publisher=|accessdate=3 July 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://magentapartners.com/team/tom-singh-bio/|title=Tom Singh – Magenta Partners|date=April 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421033841/http://magentapartners.com/team/tom-singh-bio/|archive-date=2018-04-21}}

Career

In 1969, Singh founded the UK fashion retail chain New Look in Taunton, Somerset, starting with a loan from his parents of £5,000.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/2808595/Top-20-Richest-Asians.html|title=Top 20 Richest Asians|first=Josephine|last=Moulds|date=7 May 2007|publisher=|accessdate=3 July 2018|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/New-Look-founder-Singh-to-bag-200m/articleshow/2046073.cms|title=New Look founder Singh to bag £200m - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=15 May 2007 |publisher=|accessdate=3 July 2018}}

In 2019, his net worth was estimated at £340 million by The Sunday Times Rich List.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/sunday-times-rich-list-2019-profiles-351-399-queen-elton-john-david-beckham-tfs5wbck9|title=Rich List 2019: profiles 351-399=, featuring the Queen, Elton John and David Beckham|last=Times|first=The Sunday|newspaper = The Times|date=2019-05-12|access-date=2019-09-09|language=en|issn=0140-0460}}

In June 2019, Singh announced his departure from New Look.{{Cite web|title=New Look founder Tom Singh departs - Retail Gazette|url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2019/06/new-look-founder-tom-singh-departs/|access-date=2021-11-12|website=www.retailgazette.co.uk|date=7 June 2019 }}

In 2020, Singh invested in Love the Sales, an online marketplace for discounted clothes.{{Cite news|title=New Look founder Tom Singh backs Love the Sales website|newspaper=The Times|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/markets/article/new-look-founder-tom-singh-backs-love-the-sales-website-kf7tbc76c|access-date=2021-11-12|issn=0140-0460}}

Honours

He was appointed an OBE in the New Year's Honours List December 2006.{{cite news|title=Rod and Zara top New Year Honours|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6217693.stm|work=BBC News website|accessdate=4 February 2011|date=30 December 2006}}

Philanthropy

He is also the principal of Rianta Philanthropy, an India-focused impact investing fund that operates the Artha Platform, an investor network.{{cite web|url=http://www.techsangam.com/2013/05/28/artha-platform-closed-social-enterprise-version-angel-list-challenge/ |title=Artha Platform, closed social enterprise version of Angel List, announces Challenge |author=Vishy Kuruganti|date=May 28, 2013}}

Personal life

He is married to Kuljit Kaur. They live in Weymouth, Dorset.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1565586/New-Look-heir-dies-in-car-crash.html|title=New Look heir dies in car crash|first=Gary|last=Cleland|date=8 October 2007|publisher=|accessdate=3 July 2018|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}} He is the eldest brother of author and broadcaster Simon Singh.

References