Thomas Michel
About Thomas Michel
Thomas Michel serves as the Head of Internal Audit (ERM & ICS) at the World Economic Forum, bringing over 20 years of experience in Risk Management and Internal Audit across various international markets.
Work at World Economic Forum
Thomas Michel serves as the Head of Internal Audit (ERM & ICS) at the World Economic Forum, a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the internal audit functions related to enterprise risk management and internal control systems. His work contributes to the Forum's mission of improving the state of the world through collaboration and dialogue among leaders from various sectors.
Education and Expertise
Thomas Michel holds a Master of Arts in Management from Université de Fribourg/Universität Freiburg, which he completed from 1994 to 1999. He has pursued further education in internal audit, achieving certifications from the Institute of Internal Auditors, including the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation in 2009 and accreditation in Quality Assessment/Validation of Internal Audit from the IIA. He also obtained the SVIR certification from the Swiss Association for Internal Audit in 2008.
Background
Thomas Michel has over 20 years of experience in risk management, internal audit, and internal control systems, primarily within Big 4 firms. His career includes significant roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a Senior Auditor and at BearingPoint as a Senior Consultant. He has also held leadership positions at KPMG and EY, where he focused on internal audit advisory services in various international markets.
Professional Experience
Throughout his career, Thomas Michel has worked in multiple countries, including the USA, UK, Hong Kong, and Japan. He has held various senior roles, including Executive Director at EY in Switzerland and Director at KPMG LLP in New York. His experience spans over a decade in leadership positions, including Managing Director at Grant Thornton Switzerland/Liechtenstein, where he led Business Risk Services.
Achievements
Thomas Michel is certified by the Swiss Institute of Internal Auditors to lead quality assessments of internal audit functions. His extensive project experience across international markets has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of internal audit practices and risk management strategies, contributing to his effectiveness in senior roles within the industry.