Tom Pauncefort leads CRD Records, the world’s oldest family-owned classical label, into its second half-century. Founded in 1975 by his father Graham, the label marked its 50th anniversary in 2025 by evolving from a legendary boutique imprint into a multi-disciplinary creative powerhouse under the banner “Classical ReDefined.”

Following a 15-year career in the British Army and a tenure in financial services, Tom assumed leadership alongside his sister, Emma, in 2020. Together, they have reimagined the label’s heritage, moving beyond traditional recording to offer a holistic “CRD Offer”—a 360-degree service model that includes CRD Publishing and a streamlined Sync & Innovation arm. Tom has been instrumental in ensuring CRD remains an agile, “small but mighty” partner, capable of delivering fully cleared, high-speed licensing for global media.

Under Tom’s direction, CRD continues its 50-year tradition of launching era-defining careers—a legacy that began with Trevor Pinnock and continues today through adventurous collaborations, such as the landmark 2025 release of the first classical works by Grammy-winning jazz legend Lenny White. For Tom, the mission is clear: maintaining a relationship-driven ethos while positioning classical music as a vibrant, essential asset in the contemporary landscape.