T homas "Tom" James is an American financial services executive who is the chairman emeritus of the investment firm Raymond James Financial. The company was co-founded by his father, Robert James, in 1962. Tom joined the family business and, after taking over as CEO in 1970 at the age of 27, built it from a small, regional Florida-based firm into a major national and international wealth management and investment banking powerhouse.

Under his more than four decades of leadership as CEO, Raymond James grew dramatically, both organically and through a series of successful acquisitions of other brokerage and investment firms. He is credited with fostering a strong, client-focused corporate culture. After stepping down as CEO, he served as the company's chairman for many years and now holds the title of chairman emeritus. His billion-dollar fortune is derived from his substantial stake in the publicly traded company he was instrumental in building. He and his wife, Mary, are also prominent art collectors and philanthropists, having founded the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in St. Petersburg, Florida.