Thomson Reuters Plans CFO Change
Business information giant Thomson Reuters announced a planned transition for its Chief Financial Officer position. The upcoming leadership change could signal strategic shifts at one of the world's most influential firms for financial and legal professionals.
Outgoing CFO Mike Eastwood, a 25-year veteran of the company, will transition to become Chairman of the Board for the Thomson Reuters Foundation. He will also continue to serve as an advisor to the President and CEO, Steve Hasker, ensuring a smooth handover of financial leadership. This move retains his extensive institutional knowledge within the Thomson Reuters ecosystem. The incoming CFO, Gary E. Bischoping, Jr., is set to join on April 13, 2026, and will officially take over the role on May 8, 2026. His background includes significant financial leadership positions at major technology and medical tech firms, signaling a strategic focus on these areas for Thomson Reuters. Bischoping previously served as CFO at Finastra, a financial technology company, and at Varian Medical Systems. Notably, he spent over 17 years at Dell Technologies, where he held senior finance roles, including divisional CFO and Treasurer. His experience at Dell included the development and implementation of a pioneering machine-learning-based finance tool, which aligns with Thomson Reuters' increased focus on artificial intelligence. CEO Steve Hasker specifically highlighted that Bischoping's "financial rigor, strategic insight, and operational leadership" will be key in navigating the opportunities of the AI era. This leadership change comes as Thomson Reuters is investing heavily in generative AI, with plans to spend over $100 million annually in this area. The company has been actively acquiring AI-focused companies like Casetext to enhance its product offerings, such as the AI-assisted research features in Westlaw Precision. The transition is structured for continuity, with both Eastwood and Bischoping scheduled to participate in the company's first-quarter earnings call on May 5, 2026. This overlap is designed to ensure a seamless transfer of responsibilities as the company continues its strategic push into AI-driven professional solutions. Most recently, Bischoping was a Partner at the private equity firm Hellman & Friedman, where he led the Finance Center of Excellence. In this role, he worked with leadership teams across the firm's portfolio companies to bolster their financial operations and governance.
