Professor Dr. Thomas Bayer is a distinguished scholar and practitioner in international management, leadership development, and sustainability-driven innovation. He has served as Professor for International Management & Leadership at HNU University of Applied Sciences (Germany) since 2010 and has been Director of the Centre for Research on Services Science (CROSS) since 2012. He also leads the Africa Institute at HNU and heads the HNU Founders Space Programme, as well as the M.A. Social Entrepreneurship programme.

With over three decades of experience spanning academia, global corporate leadership, and organizational development consulting, Professor Bayer has held senior executive roles including Vice President (Europe, Middle East & Africa) at ERDAS Inc. (Hexagon Group), and Chief Learning Officer (EMEA) at Sun Microsystems. His professional journey includes extensive engagement in cross-cultural management, strategic leadership, and innovation ecosystems across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Professor Bayer’s academic and research interests focus on sustainable business transformation, circular and shared economy models, social entrepreneurship, renewable energy value chains, and innovation partnerships between Germany and African economies, particularly Kenya. His work bridges management theory and practice, supporting the development of resilient and inclusive business ecosystems.

At GLGI, Professor Bayer contributes strategic guidance on sustainability transitions, social enterprise models, institutional development, and the integration of environmental governance with innovation and leadership systems.
For more information on Professor Bayer’s academic profile and publications, please visit:
https://www.hnu.de/en/thomas-bayer