Michael Derek Thomas
Co-Founder & Chairman of the Board
Growth and Transformation Leader
Derek Thomas is a dynamic, visionary business executive, entrepreneur, board member, and strategic advisor with more than 30 plus years of experience building, scaling, and guiding organizations through moments of growth, reinvention, and transition. Renowned for his collaborative and empowering style, Thomas’s career spans the non-profit sector and financial services to include enterprise leadership and leadership positions in the areas of strategy, innovation, business development, sales, affinity marketing, business/digital transformation, operations and M&A/integration.
Thomas previously served as the Chief Strategy Officer for both EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants and Galway Holdings over the course of 14 years, where he was instrumental in building, growing, and transforming Galway Holdings into a multi-billion-dollar financial services holding company with a portfolio of successful distribution intermediary companies. He served as an executive team member and was formally inducted into the EPIC Hall of Fame during his tenure. He has also served in leadership positions with premier firms such as Chubb, Aon and GMAC and operated as a co-founder and investor in multiple businesses.
Thomas has partnered with Nia T. Hill as the Co-founder and Chairman of ODX Studios, as he embarks on the next stage of his career journey. He is known for bringing clarity to ambiguity, steady premier perspective to pivotal moments, and alignment between purpose, strategy, and governance so what is built is intentional and designed to last. He has extensive experience operating as an enterprise-level leader and strategic advisor working with founders, executive teams, for-profit and nonprofit boards. Thomas plays a central role in the success of building and scaling ODX Studios into a premier alternative distribution platform utilizing affinity-based strategies and principles in the ever-evolving entertainment industry. In addition to ODX Studios first “Drop” in April of 2026, Hill and Thomas are the Co-producers of I’m Every Woman, the Chaka Khan musical that has its debut in the West End of London in March of 2026.
A lifelong learner, Thomas holds an MSW in Administration, Policy Development, and Planning, as well as a BA in Political Science and History, from Rutgers University. He earned the distinction of being named a Ralph J. Bunche Distinguished Graduate Fellow and attended the Rutgers University Graduate School of Social Work on a full scholarship. His executive education includes programs at Harvard Business School, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the Booth School at the University of Chicago, Chubb School of Insurance, and the Disney Leadership Program.