Thomas is Head of Commercial Development for Specialized Modalities at Lonza AG, where he leads a cross-functional team responsible for shaping strategy, launching new service offerings, and driving growth across cutting-edge therapeutic platforms, including mRNA, Microbial, Exosomes, and Cell and Viral Vector Technologies. With over a decade at Lonza, Thomas brings a deep and diverse leadership track record spanning commercial, operational, and R&D functions. As Global Head of Operations for Cell and Gene Technologies, he oversaw process development and manufacturing across sites in the US, Europe, and Asia. Under his leadership, three manufacturing facilities achieved FDA and EMA licensure for commercial supply of advanced therapy products—marking a pivotal milestone in the industrialization of cell and gene therapies. Earlier in his career, Thomas served in several commercial leadership roles, including Global Head of Sales and Program Management. He played a key role in securing and growing a robust portfolio of clients in the cell and gene therapy space, supporting multiple programs from early clinical stages through to successful commercial launch. His efforts also contributed to Lonza’s strategic global expansion, including establishing new partnerships and acquisitions across Asia and Europe. Thomas’s background in R&D continues to inform his work today. He previously led development of manufacturing technologies for human pluripotent stem cells, culminating in the creation of the first cGMP-compliant iPSC bank used for cell therapy applications. Across his career, Thomas has consistently championed innovation and scalability in advanced therapies, playing an instrumental role in establishing cell and gene therapy as a core growth area within Lonza. He holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Vienna and an MBA from the Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego. He completed postdoctoral research at Stanford University and UCLA, where he studied the molecular mechanisms of stem cell differentiation.