Our Story
A heritage of leadership. A future built around people.
Arlun Advisory was founded on a simple belief: leadership is not defined by titles or hierarchy, but by responsibility, courage, and the impact we leave behind.
The firm’s story spans several generations, beginning in the rugged landscapes of North Wales and extending to the world’s major financial centres. It is a story shaped by resilience, independence, and an enduring commitment to people.
Origin
The name Arlun is intentional and deeply personal.
AR represents Arthur Thomas, the grandfather of Founder and Chief Executive Officer, David.
LUN represents Eluned Thomas, David’s mother.
Together, they symbolise the foundations on which the firm is built: strength, adaptability, and human connection.
Arlun Advisory was formally launched on 6 January 2026, what would have been Arthur Thomas’s 120th birthday, a deliberate acknowledgement of the legacy that continues to shape the firm’s philosophy today.
Arthur Thomas
(The "Ar" in Arlun Advisory)
Arthur Thomas grew up in North Wales in an era defined by hardship and necessity. His life journey took him from farm work to the slate mines, and ultimately to war. These experiences instilled a deep sense of responsibility, discipline, and resilience - qualities that became embedded in the family’s understanding of leadership.
Leadership, in this context, was never abstract. It was practical, grounded, and people-centred. It meant showing up, protecting others, and doing what was right, even when conditions were unforgiving.
Eluned Thomas
(The "Lun" in Arlun Advisory)
Eluned Thomas raised her son as a single mother in North Wales, navigating economic and social adversity with determination and quiet strength. Her leadership was defined not by authority, but by care, perseverance, and an unwavering belief in the potential of people. This generation reinforced a core principle that continues to guide Arlun Advisory today: people are not resources to be managed but individuals to be understood, supported, and empowered.
Who Arlun Advisory is today?
David Gareth Thomas
CEO & Founder
David’s leadership journey began in the industrial heartlands of South Wales and evolved into driving transformation across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US.
David brings over 30 years of practical global leadership experience spanning Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
As a Global Chief People Officer and senior business executive, he has not only shaped strategy but executed large-scale transformations, delivering measurable commercial impact and sustainable growth for top-tier institutions across multiple continents.
Renowned for empathetic, multicultural leadership, David is trusted by CEOs, boards, and regulators to lead through complexity, crisis, and change. His expertise lies in aligning people strategy with business priorities, embedding commercial discipline, and building sustainable high-performance cultures.
Through outcome-driven talent strategies, cultural transformation, and accelerated leadership development, he enables organisations to navigate geopolitical risk and deliver lasting competitive advantage.
David is an alumnus of The University of Aston, Harvard Business School, Saïd Business School Oxford, IMD Business School, and Cranfield School of Management, and a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Arlun Advisory partners with CEOs, boards, and leadership teams across multinational organisations, private equity, family offices, and high-growth businesses.
Grounded in integrity, adaptability, and a people-first philosophy, the firm delivers strategic people and leadership advisory designed for a global workforce and a rapidly changing world.
Heritage of leadership. Future of people.
It reflects where Arlun Advisory comes from; and where it helps organisations go next. Honouring generational leadership values while shaping modern, resilient, and human-centred organisations for the future.