Neville Roy Singham is an American entrepreneur and social activist. |
He founded and previously chaired 'Thoughtworks,' an IT consulting company he sold for $785 million in 2017. |
In November 2023, he faced allegations of circulating Chinese messages and was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate regarding a money laundering case linked to NewsClick. |
Singham's father was Archibald Singham from Sri Lanka, a political scientist, and his mother was Cuban. |
In his youth, Singham joined the League of Revolutionary Black Workers, which championed Black pride and Mao's ideas. |
He worked at a Chrysler factory in Detroit in 1972. |
Singham attended Howard University before establishing a business in Chicago, aiding companies in software leasing. |
In the late 1980s, he founded 'Thoughtworks' in Chicago, offering computer consultation and customized software. |
From 2001 to 2008, he served as a strategic technical consultant for Huawei. |
By 2008, 'Thoughtworks' had 1,000 employees and catered to major firms like Microsoft and Oracle. |
In 2010, 'Thoughtworks' expanded to work with Daimler AG, Siemens, and Barclays and set up a second headquarters in Bangalore, India. |
He sold 'Thoughtworks' in 2010 for $785 million while it had 4,500 employees across 15 countries. |
Singham was less involved in managing the company, focusing more on activism and Lean manufacturing methodologies. |
He advocated for open software access and worldwide sharing of software ideas. |
Singham aimed to tackle global issues by enhancing technical infrastructure. |
He expressed admiration for Hugo Chavez, China, and Maoism, supporting Julian Assange and WikiLeaks. |
Singham was a vocal advocate for efficiency and invested in international projects to promote it. |
In 2017, notable figures attended his wedding with Jodie Evans. |
In 2021, allegations surfaced of Singham supporting pro-Chinese causes in the US. |
The Enforcement Directorate in India accused him of involvement in money laundering. |
Singham donated a significant sum to non-profit organizations, including Code Pink. |
Reports suggested he was initiating a movement for peace in Ukraine and against NATO enlargement. |
In 2023, he began investing in Chinese companies and operating from Shanghai. |
Recent reports indicated Singham's close ties with the Chinese government, funding entities supporting their message. |
He faced scrutiny under the Foreign Agents Registration Act after Senator Marco Rubio's inquiry. |
In July 2023, Singham participated in a workshop advocating for the Chinese Communist Party internationally. |