Harvey Thomas is the founder of Progo and a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) with over two decades of experience leading some of the UK and Ireland’s most prominent landed estates, rural businesses, and visitor destinations.

Raised on his family farm in West Cornwall, Harvey developed a deep connection with the land and a strong belief in the importance of family, community, and sustainability. These values have underpinned a career that has combined estate leadership, family office advisory, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Harvey began his professional journey with Buccleuch Estates, working on the 120,000-acre Queensberry Estate during the early years of Scottish land reform. This role provided first-hand experience of adapting to legislative change and balancing long term stewardship with modern business needs.

In 2009, Harvey was awarded a Nuffield Farming Scholarship, which enabled him to travel internationally and study innovative approaches to land management, diversification, and family succession in farming and estates.

He went on to Dorset to lead a private estate with a strong commercial property focus, before joining the Devonshire Group in 2013 as Estate Manager for the 30,000-acre Bolton Abbey Estate in North Yorkshire and the 9,000-acre Lismore Estate in County Waterford. At Bolton Abbey, a business welcoming over 400,000 visitors each year, Harvey gained extensive experience in leisure, hospitality, and heritage management, overseeing everything from rural enterprise to large-scale visitor operations.

In 2018, Harvey returned to Cornwall with his young family becoming Chief Executive of St Aubyn Estates, custodians of the internationally recognised landmark St Michael’s Mount. Here, he was responsible for a business at the heart of Cornwall’s visitor economy, integrating tourism, asset management, heritage and community interests.

Throughout his career, Harvey has also worked closely with family offices and private clients, advising on succession planning, inheritance tax efficiency, and long-term business structuring. His focus has been on helping families manage, protect, and grow their assets while planning for the next generation.

In 2024, Harvey launched Progo, bringing together his expertise in estate leadership, rural enterprise, and family office strategy to provide a fresh, independent advisory service. Progo works with estates, families, and businesses to unlock opportunities across land, property, leisure, and hospitality, always with an eye on sustainability and long-term value.

Alongside his professional work, Harvey remains actively involved in his family farm in West Cornwall. The farm has been the foundation for entrepreneurial projects including award-winning holiday cottages and the creation of a Cornish rum brand in 2019.

Harvey thrives at the point where traditional estate values meets innovation, helping clients navigate change, grow sustainably, and plan confidently for the future.