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Tom Singh

Tom Singh OBE (born August 1949) is a British businessman of Indian descent best known as the founder of New Look, a major high-street fashion retailer specializing in affordable clothing for women, men, and children. Singh established New Look in 1969 in , , using a £5,000 loan from his parents to open the chain's first store, initially focusing on women's apparel before expanding into and international markets. Under his leadership, the company grew rapidly, listing on the London Stock Exchange in 1998 and reaching hundreds of stores across the and beyond by the early 2000s; as of August 2025, New Look operated approximately 348 stores primarily in the , but announced closures of 41 stores by the end of 2025 as part of restructuring efforts, with an additional online presence serving global customers. In 2004, Singh participated in a backed by firms and that took New Look private in a £700 million transaction, after which he transitioned to a role (until 2019) while remaining a significant shareholder and advisor. Beyond retail, he has become an active investor through family interests in technology, real estate, and sustainable ventures, including roles on advisory boards for organizations like Zouk Capital and the British Asian Trust. Singh was appointed Officer of the () in 2007 for his services to the fashion industry, recognizing his contributions to and in the sector. As a philanthropist, he supports initiatives in , , and , particularly those benefiting British Asian communities and young entrepreneurs.

Early life and education

Early years

Tom Singh was born in August 1949 in , to a Sikh family. In 1950, at the age of one, Singh immigrated to with his family, who were seeking better opportunities following India's independence. They initially settled in the , specifically in , where the family established roots as working-class immigrants. Singh's father, Mehnga Singh, worked in the textile trade, starting by selling clothes door-to-door before opening a shop in in 1955, which provided young with early exposure to retail practices. The family faced the challenges typical of post-war immigrant life in rural , emphasizing hard work and . During his childhood in , Singh attended local primary schools before enrolling at Wellington School. He is the eldest brother of science writer and broadcaster .

Academic background

Tom Singh completed his at Wellington School in , . He then attended (part of the at the time), graduating in the late 1960s with a in international politics and . His university coursework in these fields fostered an interest in global affairs and , which proved relevant to his subsequent career in .

Business career

Founding and leading New Look

Tom Singh founded the fashion retailer New Look in 1969 in , , at the age of 20, securing a £5,000 loan from his parents to open the first store. The venture initially targeted affordable, trendy clothing for young women, emphasizing with quick stock turnover to keep styles fresh and accessible on the . The debut store proved successful, generating strong early sales that enabled rapid domestic expansion in the UK during the 1970s and 1980s, as Singh built a chain focused on value-driven apparel for the youth market. Under Singh's leadership, New Look grew into a global brand, reaching over 800 stores worldwide by the mid-2010s, with significant international expansion into starting in the late 1990s, followed by markets in , the , and . Key milestones included the launch of an online store in December 2007, which quickly boosted sales and broadened customer reach amid the rise of digital retail. The company navigated several ownership transitions, including a 2004 led by Singh and backed by private equity firms and , before being sold to South Africa's Brait SE in 2015 for £1.9 billion, with Singh retaining a throughout these changes. Singh served as executive chairman of New Look from its inception, guiding its strategic direction through decades of growth and challenges in the competitive fast-fashion sector, until his retirement from the board in June 2019 following a major debt refinancing that reduced the company's obligations by £1.3 billion. Upon departure, he maintained a 10% stake in the business, reflecting his ongoing connection to the retailer he built. Post-2019, New Look faced ongoing challenges including store closures and ownership restructuring, operating approximately 340 stores primarily in the UK as of 2025. The success of New Look significantly contributed to Singh's personal wealth, with his estimated at £340 million in 2019, as reported in Rich List.

Later investments and ventures

Following his departure from New Look in June 2019, Tom Singh shifted focus to private investments through his , Rianta Capital, based in , , which manages a diversified portfolio across various sectors. Established to steward the family's wealth, Rianta Capital has pursued opportunities in retail, , , and consumer brands, with Singh serving as an active investor and advisor to firms such as Magenta Partners, a group specializing in investments. In 2020, Singh invested in Love the Sales, an online discount retail platform aggregating deals from brands like and , to support AI enhancements and U.S. expansion. Subsequent investments included leading a £1.33 million funding round for El Rayo Tequila in April 2024, a super-premium spirit brand, building on Rianta's prior £900,000 commitment in 2023 to fuel and international growth. That same year, Rianta Capital spearheaded a £1.1 million seed round for Reome, a -based biotech skincare brand founded in 2023, enabling product expansion, wholesale distribution, and scaling. Singh's investment activities continued into 2025, with Rianta Capital participating in funding for Tonic Nutrition in June, a beverages company focused on wellness products, further diversifying into the health and nutrition sector. These ventures, alongside his retained stake in New Look, have sustained his wealth from fashion retail.

Philanthropy and recognition

Philanthropic initiatives

Tom Singh serves as the principal of Rianta Philanthropy, an India-focused impact investing fund managed through Rianta Capital, the advisory firm for the Singh Family Trusts. This philanthropic arm emphasizes social impact investments aimed at fostering sustainable enterprises in underprivileged regions of India. A key component of Rianta Philanthropy's efforts is the , an online investor network launched in 2006 to connect impact investors, donors, and social enterprises. The platform facilitates deal sourcing, , and funding for projects targeting , healthcare, and alleviation, particularly in underserved communities. As a of The Artha Initiative—the philanthropic extension of this structure—Singh oversees initiatives that promote enterprise-led solutions to social challenges in . One notable early commitment was an investment in Orb Energy, a provider of solutions for rural and off-grid areas, which received seed funding from the Singh Family Trusts in 2006 and continues to benefit from Rianta Capital's support. Beyond India-specific work, Singh's extends to broader causes supporting immigrant and developing world communities. He is a founding member and former chair of the UK Advisory Council for the , which advances education, employment, and health programs across to uplift marginalized groups. Additionally, Singh founded The Pakhar Foundation in 2002, a UK-based that provides grants for humanitarian and projects, reflecting his commitment to social investment in diverse global contexts.

Awards and honours

In the 2007 New Year Honours List, Tom Singh was appointed Officer of the () for his services to the fashion industry, recognizing his role in building New Look into a major British retailer. Singh received the Drapers Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009, honoring his 40-year career as a pioneer in fast-fashion retailing and his contributions to the UK's apparel sector. His business success has led to repeated inclusions on the Sunday Times Rich List, with his family's wealth estimated at £385 million in 2017, £340 million in 2019, and £360 million in 2023, reflecting the enduring impact of New Look's growth and his subsequent investments. These honours underscore Singh's influence in and his broader community contributions, without involvement in military or political spheres.

Personal life

Family

Tom Singh is married to Kuljit , who shares in the family's Sikh heritage originating from . The couple has two children, whose names are not publicly detailed. Singh is the eldest brother of , a prominent British author and science communicator known for works on and physics. His sister-in-law is , a British journalist, author, and broadcaster. The Singh family collaborates on through trusts and the Rianta Capital, established in 2006 and headquartered in , which oversees investments in retail, technology, and impact initiatives, though family members hold no specified direct operational roles in Singh's businesses.

Residence and lifestyle

Singh resides in Weymouth, Dorset, United Kingdom, in a family home that reflects his preference for privacy as a publicity-shy individual. Following his retirement from the New Look board in 2019, Singh has adopted a low-profile , devoting time to his , personal investments, and philanthropic pursuits. He has avoided major public controversies throughout his career and personal life. As a British-Indian businessman of Sikh , Singh continues to uphold cultural ties to his roots.

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