Thomas to lead Clarivate's science and research division

After just four months on the board of Clarivate Analytics, Annette Thomas has been appointed as chief executive officer of the company’s Scientific and Academic Research division.

Despite the firm being headquartered in Philadelphia, US, Thomas will lead the division’s global team from its London office, where a significant number of employees are based.

Clarivate was formed as an independent business when Thomson Reuters Intellectual Property & Science was sold to private equity funds last year. It has 4,000 employees, and operates in 100 countries, offering analytics via subscription-based businesses focused on science and academic research as well as pharmaceutical and biotech intelligence, intellectual property management, and other areas.

Thomas recently facilitated Clarivate’s acquisition of Publons, the global platform for researchers to share recognition for peer review, for a “significant” sum. At the time she said bringing the two companies together "has the potential to truly transform the peer review process".

Thomas was previously c.e.o. of Macmillan Science and Education and most recently chief scientific officer and global head of Springer Nature’s research business. She also serves as a trustee and board member of The Yale Corporation, the governing board and policy-making body for Yale University.

In her new role, Thomas will be tasked with expanding the firm’s leadership position in the scientific and academic research market.

She said: “It is an exciting time in the research community and specifically at Clarivate Analytics. There is a tangible opportunity to transform the way in which the discovery, evaluation and impact of scientific research occurs, and Clarivate Analytics…is the best positioned organisation to do so.”

Jay Nadler, chief executive of Clarivate credited Thomas with advocating open access and improving the researcher ecosystem at the company, which he said has benefitted its strategy.

“Annette has consistently built and led teams that have out-paced the market in terms of growth, by being customer-focused, brand-led and pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a scientific publisher,” he added.