Thomas, a graduate physicist (Dipl.-Physiker) with additional studies in business administration, has been working in consulting since 1996. He served as a partner at a top management consulting firm, where he managed and led a wide range of projects, primarily in the energy sector (including e.on in Germany and OMV in Romania). He began his professional career as a research assistant at the Institute of Physics at the University of Karlsruhe, where he also earned his doctorate.