Murray Thom is in high demand as a speaker where he focuses on turning small opportunities into healthy revenue streams and winning new business. Murray is a passionate Kiwi who has made a significant and wide ranging contribution to New Zealand life in multiple areas that include the arts, sport, publishing, music, philanthropy, community and business.
His endeavour, the Offering project, showcased the breadth of his involvement in one production. Offering was launched on April 30, 2019 to launch NZ Music Month and featured twelve of NZ's finest recording artists alongside twelve of our finest painters. Dave Dobbyn with Dick Frizzell, Don McGlashan and Tami Neilson with Karl Maughan, Hollie Smith & Teeks with Reuben Pattison, Stan Walker with Lisa Reihana to name but a few pairings. All of these artists performed at no charge and Murray also contributed his services to fulfil his 17 year vision that resulted in The Salvation Army being presented with a cheque from Murray on behalf of the Offering project for $327,465.00 the month following its release.
This wasn't the first time that Murray has fulfilled his ongoing desire of 'doing great work while doing good'. The Great New Zealand Cookbook released in 2014 featured 80 of New Zealand's top cooks, chefs and bakers including Peter Gordon, Dame Alison Holst, Fleur Sullivan and Sid Sahrawat which raised $125,000 for the KidsCan charitable trust. This production also received international recognition by being named Best Easy Recipes Cookbook at the 2015 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in China, where it was also nominated for Best Cookbook of the Year.
On the subject of international recognition, Murray signed pianist Carl Doy to a recording contract in 1987 and went on to sell over 3 million albums through TimeLife in the United States. In 2005, Oprah Winfrey named their Together 10CD Collection, recorded with members of the NZSO, as her "favourite thing of the year€. Murray was also Executive Producer on the Miracle album bringing together Celine Dion with photographer Anne Geddes.
On the local music front, Murray was the Executive Producer of Dave Dobbyn's 1998 album Loyal which went on to win Best Album at the 1988 New Zealand Music Awards. Murray also signed Rob Guest and produced his albums Standing Ovation and Unmasked. For the 100 year commemoration of the ANZACs, Murray partnered with Neil Finn and Jim Carter to record Blue Smoke with all proceeds going to the RSA. Murray has also recorded albums with Nathan Haines, Margaret Urlich and Martin Winch.
Murray created and produced The Great New Zealand Songbook in 2009 which featured handwritten lyrics from 40 of NZ's finest songwriters and this production remains one of the highest selling New Zealand albums of all time.
Murray has a passion for youth that has also been expressed by speaking at every Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) for nearly 20 years and as a result of his long service and contribution Murray was presented with The Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary in 2018. Yachting New Zealand also recognised Murray with their Award of Merit in 2005 'in recognition of outstanding achievement and services in yachting' as a result of him winning the World Laser Master Championship in Fortaleza Brazil in 2005.
In 1987 Murray won a government tender to introduce personalised number plates onto New Zealand roads in a joint venture with the LTSA (Land Transport Safety Authority). Over the course of the decade that Murray owned the company 1987-1997, it is estimated that a minimum of $10 million was raised for
road safety via the revenue received by the LTSA. Murray's office is part of the Icehouse in Auckland where he has been instrumental in creating a vibrant business community and where he continues to mentor young business owners.
Murray's best-selling memoir 'Eat ,Drink & Be Murray' was released in 2019.
Murrays latest venture 'Glorious' is an NFT business specialising in 'authentic, digital, masterpieces' - their first drop was the famous New Zealand work 'Cass' painted by Rita Angus.
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Murray Thom
This clip is from Murray Thom presenting at the Celebrity Speakers New Zealand Showcase, held in conjunction with CINZ MEETINGS 2012. Murray is a dynamic keynote speaker, this is just a snippet of what he can offer. Murray Thom left school at 15 with no qualifications. By the age of 23 he was Managing Director of CBS Records New Zealand, the youngest Managing Director of that group in the world. With a strong desire to be self-employed he left the corporate life 30 years ago to “have a go” on his own.Murray Thom is the energy drink of speakers - delivering an interesting, energetic and relevant speech. ... keep reading NZACS
We loved Murray - what a truly lovely man and such a charismatic & entertaining speaker! The audience and staff loved him! Murray was an engaging and charismatic speaker - humorous, entertaining & inspirational! And what a lovely man to work with too... He's humble and so bubbly! We thoroughly enjoyed having Murray as part of our event. He worked to our brief well and the audience has already provided positive feedback about his messages.
