Since January 2013 he has been chief executive of News Corp. Thomson was born in Torrumbarry, Victoria, and studied at Christian Brothers College in St Kilda East, and at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

In 2007, Thomson was one of the first media executives to criticise Google and big tech for the disaggregation of content and publication of falsehoods, and to pressure them for a higher share of advertising value.

"[14][16] Thomson called for new terms of trade for tech platforms to allow viable business models for creators and to benefit broader society.

[17][18] In 2023, Thomson has decried the unauthorised use of journalistic content by generative AI and the resulting existential risk posed to media companies.

Thomson and several other media leaders[19] have called for compensation by tech companies that are developing and employing AI.