Thomas obtained his Law degree in Austria in 1987, and a Masters in Law from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, European Community Law section.

Thomas worked for Schlumberger (Sedco Forex, Dowell, Anadrill and Geco Prakla) as General Counsel in Singapore and Paris (1990 -1997), as Director of  Marketing for Schlumberger Sedco Forex (1997 – 2001), based in Paris and Houston. After the merger of Sedco Forex with Transocean, he served as General Manager for the Egypt and Mediterranean Area from 2001 to 2003 based in Cairo, and from 2004 to 2007 as Managing Director of the Gulf of Guinea/West Africa Division, based in Nigeria. 

From 2008 to 2013 he held different senior positions in HR, including at the Transocean Corporate Headquarters in Geneva, and was an Officer of Transocean for 4 years. Thomas was involved from the broader HR perspective in the follow-up of the Macondo Accident.

Subsequently he was overseeing the sale of 37 Drilling rigs to Shelf Drilling  in 2013 and early 2014.

He currently is the Managing Director of CEDEP, an Executive Education Club, running also Leadership and Safety seminars/workshops.