Chris Thomas is Group Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at ODEON Cinemas Group and a highly experienced board-level adviser, with over two decades of international leadership across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. He is recognised for bringing clear judgement, commercial insight and steady leadership to complex, regulated, consumer-facing businesses.

At ODEON, Chris leads the Group’s legal, compliance, risk and governance agenda across nine European markets. Since joining in 2018, he has transformed the legal and compliance function into a strategically embedded capability, closely aligned to business performance and long-term value creation. A trusted adviser to the Board and executive team, he plays a central role in shaping governance frameworks, risk appetite and major strategic decisions, including refinancing, portfolio optimisation and crisis response.

His remit extends beyond legal into enterprise-wide risk leadership. Chris oversees health and safety across a large, high-footfall estate, embedding a consistent safety culture across multiple jurisdictions, and leads the Group’s insurance strategy, ensuring effective risk transfer and alignment with the organisation’s evolving risk profile.

Chris is also a driving force behind the integration of ESG into core business strategy. As Chair and Executive Sponsor of ODEON’s ESG Committee, he has positioned sustainability and social impact firmly within the Group’s governance framework, aligning regulatory expectations with long-term commercial priorities and board-level decision-making.

Prior to ODEON, Chris was General Counsel and Company Secretary at Weetabix Food Company, where he established and led the organisation’s global legal and governance function during a period of significant transformation. Earlier, he held senior international roles at Iron Mountain, including supporting its transition to a public REIT structure and leading complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions and acquisitions.

Chris is known for his calm authority, independence of thought and ability to navigate ambiguity. He brings a broad enterprise perspective spanning governance, risk and transformation, alongside a strong commitment to mentoring and inclusive, values-led leadership.