Tim Fraser is a transformational Chief Legal Officer who has repositioned the in-house legal function from cost centre to strategic driver of business growth, innovation, and competitive advantage. Operating as a business executive first and legal expert second, he brings a rare combination of enterprise vision, operational rigour, and legal expertise to the C-suite table.

As Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Toshiba Americas Group, Tim oversees complex legal, governance, and compliance matters across the Americas, working closely with senior leadership in both the United States and Japan. He has also been a key member of the leadership team steering the organisation for the past decade through a period of significant turbulence. His ability to provide steady legal and strategic guidance through complexity has made him a trusted adviser to the board and C-suite.

Tim’s leadership philosophy centres on one defining question he challenges his team to ask daily: What would create the most business value? This enterprise mindset aligns legal strategy, culture, and operations with the company’s goals and objectives and has transformed the legal function. Under his leadership, the legal department has become a genuine value creation engine, driving enterprise growth, profitability, and resilience.

Tim is also a leader in the responsible adoption of AI. He is developing an AI-enabled legal operating model that increases speed, quality, and value creation, while reducing the total cost of legal. He also led the establishment of a cross-functional AI innovation and governance programme, bringing together leaders from legal, IT, HR, compliance, and the business to balance innovation with risk management.

Beyond the legal function, Tim acts as a catalyst for enterprise-wide change – partnering cross-functionally to solve systemic business challenges, strengthen operations, and embed legal insight directly into core operations. He is known for building high-performing, tech-enabled teams and for translating complexity into clear, actionable guidance for executives and boards.