Thomas Bernhard Hanel is an Executive with 25 years of experience in the tyre, rubber and automotive industry. He started his employment career in 1997 at Pirelli Reifenwerke GmbH in Germany. Prior of taking over the responsibility for the Material Development in 2006, several positions had been entrusted to him, with increasing technical and personnel responsibility, both in the Manufacturing and the Research & Development area.

From 2001–2003, he was representing Pirelli Reifenwerke GmbH, as substitutive member, in the board council of the DKG (Deutsche Kautschuk Gesellschaft). From 2021 onwards, he returns as elected member to the board council of the DKG.

In 2012, he moved to the Pirelli Tyre S.p.A. headquarter in Milan / Italy, to take over the responsibility of the Material Innovation activities. In 2015, he became the Global Head of the Material Development.

He is a graduated engineer in polymer and rubber technology, holds a M.Sc. degree in mechanical engineering and machine building, a PhDr. (Philosophiae Doctor) in Strategic Management and a Ph.D. “magna cum laude” in Chemical Sciences of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Engineering and Technology of Polymers.

He is the author / co-author of more than 30 patents and 26 publications.